Inviting Consumers to Innovate

Mar 26, 2012 2:15 PM ET

Smart companies are embracing the notion that sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected sources, outside of their four walls. Crowdsourcing and cross-industry partnerships, modes of innovation involving consumers, competitors or other surprising partners, are becoming ingrained in business strategy, as companies move away from traditional problem-solving. Unilever is taking this concept one step further with the launch of its online platform "Open Innovation". In its quest to design a product that is both environmentally and user-friendly, the company has opened its doors to ideas from anyone and everyone, including those individuals who will ultimately buy and use its products.

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