Related Articles
| Rate This Article: |
Got a problem that needs resolved? Toss it into cyberspace or crowdsource
The state of the art, high tech age that we
live in has resulted in the creation of new words to describe new
concepts. "Crowdsourcing" is exactly such a term.
What is crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing means discovering a way to
finish a task or find a solution to an issue by involving a wide range of organizations
or people. The plea for information, help and feedback is usually issued via
the Internet.
When you are asked for advice or information
and you oblige, you are a part of crowdsourcing. The asker, which could be an
individual or a company, is, obviously, the initiator of crowdsourcing or the
crowdsourcer. There is no payment attached to crowdsourcing, at least
not for those who provide the answers and expertise that the asker is
requesting.
The Internet has made it tremendously easy to
reach millions of people with the click of a mouse, so why not utilize that
audience for problem solving? There is no easier way to gather up a bunch of
opinions or recommendations quickly than via the Internet.
Crowdsourcing allows problems to be dealt with swiftly and inexpensively. Crowdsourcing enables a company or business to tap into a vast range of talent that probably does not exist within the boundaries of a particular company.
Crowdsourcing is sometimes referred to as a help
engine or social answer. In a way, the answer to what is crowdsourcing is that it is a form of outsourcing.
Most of us already know that outsourcing means that work is done by people
outside of your company or even outside of your country. The difference between
outsourcing and crowdsourcing is that outsourcing is achieved via a specific person
or organization. Crowdsourcing means that the problem or task is thrown into
the wide open space of the Internet to an undefined crowd and all are welcome to
provide a solution or provide feedback.
The word crowdsourcing comes, of course, from
outsourcing. Instead of using out, crowd was inserted and this refers to a
non-specific, undefined online community of web users.
Instead of a company outsourcing a function
to people outside of the company, the institution instead outsources the
function to a large, network of people. It is comparable to an open casting
call. Anyone is free to jump into the fray and express his opinion.
Crowdsourcing is a smart way to test drive a product, so
to speak. Pitch your idea and see what kind of response you get. You may get
valuable insight into how to improve whatever it is you are trying to sell,
whether it is a tangible product or an idea.
A good example of crowdsourcing is the Do
the World a Flavour campaign implemented by Ben and Jerry. The ice cream manufacturer asked people
for inspiration for a new variety of ice cream. Any one who surfs the web was welcome
to jump in and give their two cents.
Crowdsourcing is a valuable tool for politicians. The official
can put his finger on the pulse of the nation by engaging in crowdsourcing and
hearing first hand what people need, what they hate, what they will support and
what they consider plain stupid and will not tolerate or support.
Credit for the word crowdsourcing goes to Jeff Howe, an
American journalist, who first used the term in an article that he wrote for Wired magazine. The concept behind
the phenomenon of what is crowdsourcing -- meaning to harness collective potential -- was around prior to
his introduction of the term in 2006; however, no one had attached a name to
it.
Crowdsourcing is
considered collective intelligence of the wisdom of the masses. Crowdsourcing
entails harnessing the power of a crowd of people, which leads to collective
intelligence that is far better than what any work group or any one person can
come up with.
Resources: