Developing Innovative Solutions Through Internal Crowdsourcing

Question 1

Internal crowdsourcing

Answer 1

Allows employees to interact with coworkers from other locations, suggest new ideas and directions to management
Internal crowds less diverse than external - less likely to suggest radical ideas
More localised knowledge

Question 2

External crowdsourcing

Answer 2

Outsiders to interact and come up with new ideas

Question 3

Issues with external crowdsourcing

Answer 3

1. Participants not familiar with organisation
2. Point out pain points but not good at solutions
3. Can stir up intellectual property issues

Question 4

Seven barriers to participation, collaboration and implementation

Answer 4

1. Companies ask to concentrate on incremental innovations
2. Time limits to internal crowdsourcing
3. Participation hesitation, especially if managers involved
4. Competitive process instead of collaborative
5. Tech platforms focus people contributing ideas rather than developing solutions together
6. Often no feedback given
7. Those who suggested not involved in development of solution

Question 5

Removing barriers

Answer 5

Keep focus on innovation - focus on long term opp.
Give slack time
Anonymous participation - feel safe
Company experts not exert influence too heavily
Collaborative process - sharing of knowledge
Platforms that facilitate shared development and evolution of ideas
Transparent about plans for follow-up