The term crowdsourcing becomes more and more popular within the media. Is it only useful for companies? This essay will determine what crowdsourcing really means, how it is used and what the chances for other sectors are. Furthermore, it will provide some rules for successful crowdsourcing.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. Crowdsourcing in Business
4. Crowdsourcing done wrong
5. Crowdsourcing for private matters
6. Politics and Crowdsourcing
7. Crowdsourcing in Journalism
8. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the definition and practical application of crowdsourcing across various sectors, examining both its potential for innovation and the risks involved, while providing foundational rules for successful implementation.
- The theoretical definition and core concepts of crowdsourcing.
- Ten basic rules for successful crowdsourcing in a business context.
- Case studies of effective and ineffective crowdsourcing strategies (e.g., Goldcorp, Kraft, Dell).
- The role of crowdsourcing in private problem-solving and modern politics.
- The integration and future of crowdsourcing within the journalistic profession.
Excerpt from the Book
Crowdsourcing in Business
To start with, I would like to give the 10 basic rules for successful crowdsourcing provided by Jeff Howe: “1. Pick the right model from among collective intelligence, creation, voting, or funding. 2. Pick the right crowd from the participants to the people who will influence and usher the crowd. 3. Offer the right incentives to the crowd that are often expressed in recognition rather just money. 4. Keep the pink slips in the drawer – crowdsourcing is not outsourcing 5. The dumbness of crowds, or the benevolent dictator principle – crowds need leaders who influence 6. Keep it simple, break it down – give the crowd something each individual can work on, yet can aggregate into something great. 7. Remember Sturgeon’s Law – 90% of what is created is crap so you will need to allow the crowd to separate the cream from the crap 8. Remember the 10 percent, the antidote to Sturgeon’s law – related to #7 that the crowd can do the sorting in a democratic and open forum better than the experts. 9. The community is always right. 10. Ask not what the crowd can do for you, but what you can do for the crowd – a crowd forms and is most effective when it is working on something it wants.”
A recent example of Crowdsourcing is the case of Goldcorp, a Canadian mining company. They were struggling financially and were not able to find gold on their land in northern Ontario. So they decided to put all their geological data online and asked the people for help where the gold was located. They put up a reward of 500.000 $ for correct suggestions. They got answers from people all over the world and found gold worth 3 billion $.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the growing popularity of crowdsourcing within the media and outlines the essay's intent to define the term and its application across different sectors.
2. Definition: This section establishes the theoretical basis of crowdsourcing, citing key definitions from Jeff Howe and Henk van Ess regarding the outsourcing of tasks to large, anonymous groups.
3. Crowdsourcing in Business: This chapter outlines ten fundamental rules for successful crowdsourcing and illustrates its potential through real-world examples like Goldcorp and Innocentive.
4. Crowdsourcing done wrong: This chapter analyzes the pitfalls of crowdsourcing, focusing on the negative public reaction to Kraft’s “Vegemite iSnack 2.0” naming contest.
5. Crowdsourcing for private matters: This section discusses the transition of crowdsourcing into personal life, highlighting services like Answerbag, Yahoo Answers, and Aardvark.
6. Politics and Crowdsourcing: This chapter examines Barack Obama's "interactive town hall" as a form of idea jam and assesses why the initiative struggled to foster genuine dialogue.
7. Crowdsourcing in Journalism: This section clarifies the distinction between crowdsourcing and citizen journalism, emphasizing the role of readers as sources for news reporting.
8. Conclusion: The summary synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing that professional crowdsourcing requires adherence to field-specific rules and a "give first" approach.
Keywords
Crowdsourcing, Collective Intelligence, Open Call, Outsourcing, Idea Jam, Innovation, Business Strategy, Journalism, Social Media, Online Community, Problem Solving, Digital Participation, User-Generated Content, Transparency, Reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper examines the concept of crowdsourcing, determining its definition, practical usage in business and public sectors, and the rules necessary for successful implementation.
What are the central themes of the document?
The central themes include the mechanics of collective intelligence, the distinction between crowdsourcing and standard outsourcing, community engagement, and the risks of poorly executed public campaigns.
What is the core objective of the research?
The objective is to analyze what crowdsourcing really means, how it is utilized in different industries, and what potential opportunities and challenges it offers to various sectors.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The essay primarily utilizes a qualitative literature analysis and case study approach, referencing expert definitions and real-world examples to substantiate its claims.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section covers formal definitions, ten essential business rules for crowdsourcing, various case studies (Goldcorp, Kraft, Dell, Obama), and specific applications in private life, politics, and journalism.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Crowdsourcing, Collective Intelligence, Open Call, Innovation, Journalism, and Digital Participation.
Why did the Kraft “iSnack 2.0” campaign fail?
It failed because the company ignored the preferences of the community, resulting in a severe backlash across social media and a public rejection of the new name.
How does the author view the role of journalists in the context of crowdsourcing?
The author argues that journalists should embrace crowdsourcing as a tool for accuracy and context, while maintaining their fundamental role as gatekeepers of information.
What advice does Henk van Ess provide for professional crowdsourcing?
He advocates for a "Give first, take later" philosophy, which includes building the platform, trusting the audience, managing trolls, and giving proper credit to contributors.
- Citar trabajo
- Bianca Affeldt (Autor), 2011, Aspects and potentials of Crowdsourcing , Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/191035
