MSI

It's high time we introduced another author who has been so kind as to join our MSI blog, namely Esteban Kolsky. A seasoned customer strategist and a researcher, Esteban is a promoter of translating statistics and facts into practical solutions.

Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry ("MSI") had a great idea last year: let someone from outside the institution literally "live" there for a month, and let the public see the place through her or his eyes. Sour grapes alert: I applied for the job, but found myself among a few thousand others who lost out to a plucky twentysomething who went on to be utterly boring and forgettable.

According to the Marketing Science Institute, there may be. They just published a working paper on how companies can encourage the diffusion and adoption of new products by creating positive buzz and avoiding negative one.