Crowdsourcing

Content

• What is crowdsourcing?
• History of crowdsourcing
• Uses of crowdsourcing
• Types of crowdsourcing
• How does crowdsourcing work?
• Pros and cons of crowdsourcing
• Examples of crowdsourcing in Russia

What is crowdsourcing?

Crowdsourcing is a method of organizing work in which companies engage a large number of external participants to solve specific tasks. This approach allows for the utilization of a multitude of ideas and perspectives generated by various individuals, significantly increasing the chances of successfully solving a problem. The essence of the term is encapsulated in its name: "crowd" and "outsourcing" imply "outsourcing to the crowd," which suggests delegating tasks to a large number of performers.

One vivid example of crowdsourcing is the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, where anyone can participate in creating and editing articles while adhering to certain guidelines. This model demonstrates how collective intelligence can be harnessed to create valuable content accessible to all interested parties.

History of crowdsourcing

The term "crowdsourcing" was introduced in 2006 by journalist Jeff Howe in an article for Wired magazine. He described a new phenomenon where organizations delegate tasks typically performed by in-house employees or contractors to a large group of people. Howe emphasized how companies can leverage the diversity of experiences and knowledge from different individuals to tackle various tasks. Since then, crowdsourcing has become a popular tool among companies looking to optimize their processes and tap into external resources.

Crowdsourcing can be either free or paid. For instance, large IT companies often hold competitions and offer rewards for ideas or identifying bugs in software. Telegram, for example, regularly organizes contests for developers and designers, highlighting the use of crowdsourcing in modern business.

Uses of crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing can be applied in various fields and for solving a wide range of tasks. The most common use cases include:

• Idea generation: Companies can use crowdsourcing to seek new ideas and fresh perspectives on existing products, such as when developing a logo or slogan.
• Product testing: Real users can help test products and services by providing feedback and identifying flaws.
• Data collection: Crowdsourcing facilitates the speeding up of data collection and processing, as seen in projects like OpenStreetMap, where users add and correct information on the map.
• Content creation: Platforms like Wikipedia engage users in creating and editing content.
• Fundraising: Startups can use crowdsourcing to raise funds through crowdfunding.
• Solving specific tasks: For example, finding vulnerabilities in software through programs like Yandex's "Bug Hunting."

Types of crowdsourcing

There are several types of crowdsourcing that differ based on the types of tasks that can be solved. Here are the main ones:

• Crowdfunding: Raising funds for projects through voluntary donations.
• Crowdinvesting: Attracting financing through investments from individuals in exchange for shares or equity.
• Crowdrecruiting: Mass recruitment of specialists and volunteers to work on projects.
• Crowdtesting: Testing products by external users.
• Crowdcreation: Collaborative creation of ideas, products, and content.
• Crowdvoting: Voting on decisions or projects via online platforms.

The division of crowdsourcing by the scope and scale of tasks also matters. For instance, collective collaboration, crowd competition, and crowd labor demonstrate different approaches to engaging participants and completing tasks.

How does crowdsourcing work?

The crowdsourcing process involves several key stages:

• Task selection: Defining the problem that needs to be solved.
• Platform selection: Choosing a suitable platform for posting the task.
• Task posting: Publishing participation conditions and deadlines.
• Attracting participants: Interested individuals join to complete the task.
• Gathering and evaluating results: Analyzing collected data and assessing outcomes.
• Rewarding: Providing rewards to participants if stipulated.
• Project completion: Integrating the obtained results into the company's operations.

Pros and cons of crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing has its advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before using it.

• Advantages:
  • Diversity of solutions from talented participants.
  • Speed of task completion due to mass involvement.
  • Cost savings compared to hiring employees.
  • Direct communication with the audience and real feedback.
• Disadvantages:
  • Quality issues and the need for process oversight.
  • Coordination difficulties with a large number of participants.
  • Risks of information leakage and plagiarism.
  • The necessity to motivate participants, especially if the reward is small.
  • Not suitable for all tasks, especially those requiring high confidentiality.

Examples of crowdsourcing in Russia

Crowdsourcing is actively used in Russia for the development of various projects. Examples of successful initiatives include:

• "Yandex Traffic": A service that uses data from users to display real-time information about road conditions.
• VC.ru: A platform where users can publish articles and share opinions, creating content together with the editorial team.
• "LizaAlert": A project for finding missing persons, where anyone can become a volunteer and help in the search.

These examples highlight the diversity of crowdsourcing applications and its significance in modern digital society, demonstrating how collective efforts can lead to meaningful results.