There is a huge number of meetings, conferences and daily discussions everywhere – just around needs: the needs of creating better conditions, setting up new infrastructures, restructuring, implementing new systems and machines. Organizations, cities, governments take decisions every day on how to solve problems and often these solutions are cost- intensive.
The process of finding solutions is short – at least if compared on need description. Maybe solutions can be found easily? Or does the finding process not allow a huge process and discussion?

Have you ever thought on how solutions are found?
There a different types:
1. The do-it-as-always solution. Materials are re-ordered. The updated version of a system is bought.
2. The innovative solution. Time to change and to go with a new vendor.
3. The half- heart solution. Just to calm for the moment.
and there are probably many other types…

But is it still up-to-date how solution-related decision are taken?
Today we have big data. We have all technologies in place to collect solutions on a global level and to filter and identify the best ones. To find among all big data smart data that really fits.
But nevertheless, decisions are taken often based on local knowhow, direct or indirect relationships to specific vendors or by trusting consultants, friends, colleagues… A real human approach.

A few days ago I met a social entrepreneur who is focusing exactly on that, on identifying smart data for big cities. “If a city has the need to implement a system for blind people to make sure they can cross streets on their own the typical solution is to buy traffic lights that make a sound when people can cross”, is what he told me. Not too bad, this solution. “But what if the city had known in time about a better and already proved solution? E.g. that in another city of the world (that had the same issue) for the same amount of money an entire navigation system has been established that allows blind people to become mobile 90% and not just for crossing a street?”

Interested to read more on this approach? Just visit http://www.citymart.com