That’s the simple definition of crowdsourcing: obtaining ideas, work, data, or money from a large number of people, typically online. An organization calls on the crowd to provide assistance rather than employing a team for this purpose. This guide will go into the meaning of crowdsourcing, how it functions, and why the crowdsourcing definition is important today.
Crowdsourcing Definition: Quick Answer
Crowdsourcing definition: Crowdsourcing involves engaging a large and open group of people, typically via the internet, to help gather ideas, services, content, or financing, rather than employees or a single supplier. Everybody contributes a little bit, and the group works together to solve a larger problem.
Where the Crowdsourcing Definition Came From
The word was coined for the first time by a journalist, Jeff Howe, in 2006 in Wired magazine. He melded “crowd” and “outsourcing. His definition of crowdsourcing was that “companies are giving tasks to an undefined public.
The concept is as old as the concept of the word itself. But the modern crowdsourcing definition became feasible at a large scale thanks to the internet. The crowdsourcing meaning is extended to encompass everything from online encyclopedias to fundraisers today.
How Crowdsourcing Works
When you understand what crowdsourcing is, it’s a simple task to follow. Typically consists of five steps.
The Basic Steps
- Define the problem. State a clear task or question.
- Make an open call. Put it on the internet or website.
- Collect contributions. People present their suggestions, efforts, or financial support.
- Review the results. Select the best or use a mix of them.
- Reward contributors. Provide monetary compensation, awards, credit, or merchandise.
Who Is “the Crowd”?
The crowd in the crowdsourcing definition is any group of people that decides to participate. They can represent experts, amateurs, clients, or pupils. Open calls: no one is pre-selected.
Main Types of Crowdsourcing
The following are just a few examples of crowdsourcing. This table shows the most common ones.
| Type | What It Means | Example |
| Crowd creation | People write or build content. | Wikipedia |
| Crowdfunding | Many people give small amounts of money. | Kickstarter |
| Microtasking | Big jobs split into tiny tasks. | Amazon Mechanical Turk |
| Crowd contests | Participants compete to solve a problem. | Kaggle, InnoCentive |
| Crowd voting | The public picks the best option. | Design voting sites |
Crowdfunding and the Crowdsourcing Definition
There are some experts who consider crowdfunding a new discipline. Some include it under the broader term of crowdsourcing as well because it utilizes the open call to a large group. These are two widely held perspectives.
Microtasking and the Crowdsourcing Definition
The microtasking definition does a good job of fitting the crowdsourcing definition. Large projects, e.g., labeling images, are broken down into small tasks. They are very easy to complete.
Real-World Examples of Crowdsourcing
The crowdsourcing definition is clarified by examples.
- Wikipedia: Free articles written and edited by volunteers!
- OpenStreetMap: Editors create a free, editable world map.
- Waze: Drivers share real-time traffic and road info.
- Kaggle: Data scientists compete to create the best models.
- Kickstarter: Support creative projects via crowdfunding.
All of them are examples of crowdsourcing in the sense that they are a set of people that are working together in an open group to accomplish something that any single group couldn’t do so easily.
Benefits of Crowdsourcing
The crowdsourcing definition also helps to understand the reasons of the use of so many groups.
- Lower cost: You may only have to pay for effective results.
- New ideas: A variety of people offer different perspectives.
- The speed: Many people work concurrently.
- Scale: Break tasks down into smaller ones.
- Customer connection: People feel a part of the result.
Risks and Limits
The trade-offs of crowdsourcing cannot be ignored from a fair definition of crowdsourcing. If one looks at the definition of crowdsourcing, then the negative aspects need to be included.
- Quality control: Not all contributions are of good quality.
- Compensation: Microtask workers can sometimes get paid extremely low wages.
- Security and confidentiality: It can be dangerous to share personal information with a public.
- Management effort: Time to review lots of entries.
Enforce clear rules and utilize effective review systems to minimize these issues.
Crowdsourcing vs. Outsourcing
They’re frequently mixed up. The crowdsourcing definition is not the same as outsourcing because it’s not performed by outsiders, but rather crowdsourcing is carried out by a crowd.
| Feature | Crowdsourcing | Outsourcing |
| Who does the work? | Open, large group | One chosen company |
| Selection | Anyone can join. | Contract with a vendor |
| Cost model | Often per result or prize | Fixed contract |
| Control | Lower | Higher |
How to Use the Crowdsourcing Definition in Your Business
The crowdsourcing definition is more effective when used in conjunction with a plan.
- Choose an activity that is divisible or measurable.
- Be concise and explicit in writing instructions.
- Choose a suitable platform.
- Set fair rewards.
- Use the results with caution about quality.
Start small. Verify if the crowdsourcing definition is applicable to your needs through a test project.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line of the crowdsourcing definition is that many can make things happen that one team can’t. A clear understanding of the definition of crowdsourcing will help you identify its types and utilize its benefits while minimizing the dangers of it. The crowdsourcing definition can be used in various situations, such as running a business or leading a project, or studying the trends in the digital world, and it can be helpful in solving problems together.
FAQs
1. What is the simple crowdsourcing definition?
The definition of crowdsourcing is just getting a ton of people to do a task or solve a problem, typically over the internet.
2. Who created the term?
The term was used in a Wired article by Jeff Howe in 2006. His crowdsourcing definition has influenced the definition of crowdsourcing as it is used today.
3. Is crowdfunding part of the crowdsourcing definition?
Often yes. For many this is seen as one type of crowdfunding, while others consider it a distinct type of funding.
4. How is the crowdsourcing definition different from outsourcing?
Outsourcing involves engaging a particular company. The crowdsourcing definition includes an open invitation to numerous individuals.
5. Is crowdsourcing always online?
In general, but not always. The crowdsourcing definition emphasizes an open crowd, and the Web makes it easy.
6. Do contributors get paid?
Sometimes. Rewards can be cash, prizes, credit, or nothing, such as volunteer projects.
7. What are the main benefits?
The crowdsourcing definition boils down to lower cost, new ideas, speed, and scale.
8. What are some famous examples?
Examples of crowdsourcing include Wikipedia, Waze, Kaggle, OpenStreetMap, and Kickstarter.
