Truth Serum Makes an Appearance on CBS Survivor

On last week's Survivor episode, players participated in a challenge that demonstrated the methodology behind REALYST, the idea evaluation system offered by Applied Marketing Science. REALYST is a tool that enables innovation teams to evaluate hundreds of ideas and identify with confidence the most promising ideas for further testing and development. Dubbed "Truth Serum" by MIT researchers, this was the same method the Survivors used to predict the behavior of fellow tribe members.

Waltham, MA (PRWEB) May 11, 2009 -- Last week's episode of the popular reality show "Survivor" employed the same type of methodology as AMS' own REALYST tool. Host Jeff Probst called the Survivors in for their first challenge and asked them questions like "Who is most trustworthy?" and "Who has lived up to his/her potential least?" First, each team member wrote his or her own answer on a tablet, and in the second round of play, they chose the player the other members thought would garner the most votes. The "best guesser" won a luxurious feast and swimming getaway.

Applied Marketing Science uses this same type of approach, dubbed "Truth Serum," in its REALYST application. Rather than apply a one-for-one vote counting methodology, REALYST determines whose votes should receive the most weight based on how accurately they can predict how the others will vote. Similar to how a stock market functions, the participants with the best ability to forecast the actions of others, earn the biggest returns. Based on research conducted at MIT, Truth Serum is being applied as part of REALYST, to evaluate ideas generated by companies through a number of vehicles, including IDEALYST brainstorming sessions, suggestion boxes, and online bulletin boards.

About Applied Marketing Science

Applied Marketing Science is one of the leading Voice of the Customer consulting companies in the world, with proven methodologies for gathering the Voice of the Customer, training and coaching clients in VOC methods, and brainstorming using state-of-the-art, web-based tools. Over the past twenty years, we have helped hundreds of clients in a broad range of industries incorporate "best practices" into their product development processes. Founded in 1989 with roots in the MIT Sloan School, AMS offers an array of services to meet client needs, and specializes in developing customized solutions for each situation.

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