Question

cross-pollination. Botany. the transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower of a plant having a different genetic constitution. a sharing or interchange of knowledge, ideas, etc., as for mutual enrichment; cross-fertilization.

Cross-pollination | Define Cross-pollination at Dictionary.com

www.dictionary.com/browse/cross-pollination

Cross pollination can also occur when an organization hires a new employee from a different firm, they may even be a competitor, to get new ideas from outside the organization. This is one primary reason for hiring outside the current organization.

The cross-pollination of ideas is one reason that computer company's host meetings around the country and world for people who use their product.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

The first is the biological definition of cross-pollination and other is an analogy of cross-pollination in a business environment. The second definition means enriching and making the business stronger with new business ideas, the varied the ideas are the better it is for the business just like various genes makes a plant immune to certain diseases.

This is the reason why companies hire people outside the current firm because they bring in the new ideas which the firms working in the current business environment can't have. A similar explanation is behind why a firm wants to organize meetings around the globe. This helps them meet new people in the firms and get new ideas.