[OSList] OS for innovation with group of 8?

[Thomas Perret via OSList]

Hi field of wisdom,

I would like your reflections.

I have been approached by a company who wants to find innovations within a certain technology. They are looking to have a team of 8-10 working for 2 or 3 days, and they have invited me to give them a suggestion for how to go about it.

My questions:

1. Is OS the best approach with only 8 people and this kind of mission? If not, how would you go about it? If yes, how have you had it work?
2. There are over 100 people in the company - how to utilise this potential for the purpose without having to release everybody from client work for 2-3 days?
3. They would really want to explore new innovations more broadly, but are looking, for now, to look within a certain technology because they fear being more general will give less results. Thoughts on this?

Gratefully,
Thomas