Crowdsourcing as an innovation tool

Oliver Gassmann*, Sascha Friesike, Michael Daiber

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationManagement of the Fuzzy Front End of Innovation
EditorsOliver Gassman, Fiona Schweitzer
PublisherSpringer International Publishing Switzerland
Pages75-87
Number of pages13
Volume9783319010564
ISBN (Electronic)9783319010564
ISBN (Print)3319010557, 9783319010557
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2014

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