Well, he gave his idea to the Brain Bank, Brain Bank approached this company, they thought it sounded like a good idea, so they took Brain Bank up on their offer and the guy who suggested that the company turn off their lights to save money ended up getting 7,400 dollars for himself. The company saved money and the guy made money, too. Could be, and that's the criticism that Brain Bank has received. It just takes advantage of that chasm that exists. One thing I will say, though, in the case of the forklift operator is a perfect example.
Small suggestion can really make a big difference in terms of cost and saving money for a company.
And it's not just companies. Governments can benefit from this kinda thing as well. I think it definitely is. I can think of several examples of companies that are not only trying to improve communication between employers and employees, but also trying to encourage employees to think creatively. For example, there's one large auto maker that for years has been holding an annual in-house cortisone contest in which workers are encouraged to think up the craziest cars they can or the most innovative designs possible.