When NASA needed a better algorithm for mapping dark matter, it sponsored a competition that drew data geeks from across the globe. After only one week, Martin O’Leary, a PhD student in glaciology, created an algorithm that outperformed algorithms NASA had been developing for 30 years. And in the remaining months of the competition, the results only improved from there.

The key to solving NASA’s puzzle was found in the collective wisdom of a large group. As a CEO, I’ve been amazed by similar pools of wisdom within the organizations I’ve run. While it may sound cliché, the sum of any organization is smarter than its parts. And the organizations that effectively leverage this wisdom are the ones that really take off.

Josh

Check out our latest infographic on the Wisdom of Crowds to learn more: