Short commentary
Ocheck Msuva
Abstract
Community Innovation Aggregation is the deliberate action aimed at giving end-users (people who are not innovators) the power of informing the innovation process--which is targeted at improving the very-own tools that they are supposed/using, and allowing innovators to build products relevant to their respective users. In most cases, community innovation aggregation is a two ways process that requires an intermediate agent--with a clear understanding of both landscapes (customer relation and innovation), and communicate effectively information to both ends, something which lacks in the current wave of innovation in the 21-century era, particularly in the sub- Saharan Africa, the vibrant recipient of modern technology. During the execution of a research based on customer adaptation on online learning system we realized that, despite the system working well in other parts of the continent and the world, the system was repelled by the Tanzanian community. The observational method employed: which involved handing out tablet computers to 10 students, 5teachers and 5 parents indicated that- both Students, Parents and Teachers enjoyed the experience but, the system had technical, content and usability challenges, which matters to them. Throughout our engagement with innovators and end-users we found out that, the future of innovation lies within the realm of giving the power of innovation to the end user/community. An important note to consider as innovators is that, it’s no longer about how we can make it possible, but how we can make end users experience their role as part of the product/service.