Crowdsourcing as an Innovation Tool

Abstract

Crowdsourcing – a neologism created from the words ‘crowd’ and ‘outsourcing’ – describes giving tasks to the crowd for completion. The use cases for crowdsourcing are diverse, and new ideas are constantly emerging on the internet, making it all the more important for companies to engage with the topic and to learn how to use it effectively. Various formats of crowdsourcing projects are used depending on the purpose and the initiator of the project, such as intermediate platforms, free solutions, corporate platforms, and marketplaces. The crowdsourcing process is divided into five stages, which consist of preparation, initiation and implementation of the project, and the evaluation and utilization of the ideas collected. Each step is associated with particular challenges and needs to be managed so that crowdsourcing can be used successfully as a problem-solving tool. Aside from the process-related factors, a good understanding of the web 2.0 culture, professional preparation, and a clear understanding of the goals and responsibilities are the fundamental cornerstones of successful crowdsourcing projects.