Monday, May 28, 2012
 Have you ever wished there were a better way to predict earnings, prices, or the potential success of new products? About two dozen companies, including Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google are testing out a new forecasting method that relies on the collective knowledge of the people closest to the details -- employees. This month's CEO Guide to Technology looks at these so-called prediction markets,, which work much like stock markets except that people use play money to wager on everything from future sales to new product launch dates. Find out how movie studios are using one prediction market, the Hollywood Stock Exchange, to forecast box office revenue and craft marketing plans. To determine if a prediction market could be right for your company, listen to a podcast interview with pioneer Robin Hanson, a professor at George Mason University. When you're ready to take the plunge, there's a Tip Sheet with the do's and don'ts to help get started. And take our quiz to see if you've got what it takes to forecast global current events. To find all this and more go to www.businessweek.com/go/06prediction
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