When I think of crowdsourcing I imagine a group of people coming together and either coming up with a solution or compiling different ideas. The crowd could be coming together in person, but with the many different platforms out there virtual brainstorming is the next big craze.
Personally, I think crowdsourcing is a valuable tool and it would be impractical to say that individual knowledge is the only way to come up with innovative ideas. Mostly, we surround ourselves with people that think, analyze and interpret information the same way we do. It makes sense because then no conflicts arise and quick decisions are made without resistance. The problem is by staying within your comfort zone it is going to be difficult to come up with innovative ideas. With the crowd you are getting people together that you might not normally associate yourself with in order to create friction, have disagreements and reach an original solution.
One company that has been experimenting with this idea is IBM, by conducting different JAM sessions. JAM is the idea of crowdsourcing in the virtual world, where an internet based platform is established for conducting conversations through brainstorms. A mix of people will participate and a new perspective will be gained on the problems. IBM first started JAM sessions internally and now has expanded externally; they had two Innovation Jams in 2006 and 2008 and a Smarter Planet JAM in 2009. You might be thinking of course that works because it is IBM and they have experts in many different fields coming together. But their JAM sessions are not limited to just IBM employees; they also invite stakeholders and clients. They post ideas to get discussion going and at the end they go through to get rid of the noise.
I think the wisdom of the crowd makes virtual brainstorming a success and allows us to push the envelope. Companies need to think out of the box and acknowledge that they do not always have the right answer and need to be willing to ask others for help.
I like the IBM Jam example of crowdsourcing. Also, your explanation of 'leaving your comfort zone' with an open call that brings diversity to the discussion captures the advantages of this new concept. You never know where good ideas may come from.
ReplyDeleteOne way to viewe the process of crowsourceing is a real-time research.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has ever written a well-documented paper has referenced a "crowd" of authors whose work was influenced by peer review.
While crowdsourcing is not as formal a journal publication, they have the peer review process in common.
Nice post. Crowdsourcing does seem to have a lot of upsides and is a great tool for any business.
ReplyDeleteLike any tool it may not be great for every situation. It will be interesting to look back a few years from now and analyze its successes and failures.
Call me old fashion... but I truly believe that despite gaining the ability to collaborate with anyone in the world at any given time, "virtual brainstorming" makes me cringe. What about the chemistry you can feel in the room when a group of people are really making progress, being creative, and solving problems? I don't want to loose that feeling- it is that feeling that makes collaborative work enjoyable! Plus, we have all been in those situations where we are doing a class over webinar, (or even just on a conference call), and there is a SEVERE breakdown in communication! Even if the technology is working perfectly, it is so much more difficult to pay attention, be engaged, or to be thoughtful when you are only together in the virtual sense.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, there are times when virtual brainstorming is useful and needed. But I hope it never replaces face-to-face interactions in the business world. I don't know, maybe it's generational.... maybe the younger generations will be more accustomed to virtual contact and don't have a problem communicating in that format. (eh... I'm still leery.)