From day-to-day up to national security, governments make decisions 1000s of times every year. A great many of those decisions are better made with the participation of those who will be impacted. That’s the essence of public sector crowdsourcing of ideas.
This guide addresses the basics of crowdsourcing ideas in the public sector, the strategies that work, and a few examples of intriguing and interesting public sector projects. A set of tools, hazards, and a simple launch plan are also included.
What Is Crowdsourcing Ideas in the Public Sector?
Crowdsourcing ideas in the public sector involves citizens, staff, experts, and community stakeholders in the creation, discussion, and prioritization of ideas to solve a public problem. This input is collected by governments on online platforms, challenges, and public meetings. Great ideas can be the basis of policies, budgets, and services. When done correctly, it promotes improved decision-making and local knowledge and trust between local people and public institutions.
It’s a lot different from a regular survey. Survey – a set of questions you ask people. Crowdsourcing is a process that involves the general public in providing their ideas, sometimes even voting on others’ ideas, and sometimes even commenting on others’ ideas.
It is a means of civic engagement and open innovation as well. The public is put on the side of the solution, not the side of the problem.
Why Governments Crowdsource Ideas
No public agency can have a bird’s eye view of all the issues. The citizens now must contend with the pothole, slow permits, and sometimes perplexing forms. They are usually very cognizant of what is wrong, and what they feel they might be able to do to correct the issue.
While the advantages of ideas through crowdsourcing in the public sector are clear, however:
- Better ideas: Local residents can share their local knowledge, which the officials may not be aware of.
- Greater trust—People tend to be more likely to accept the decision if they are involved in the process of decision-making.
- Lower cost: Public participation can be used to identify low-cost solutions prior to money being spent.
- Improved legitimacy—open processes: decisions were not taken without others.
- Problems are identified at an early stage: citizens do it early
Key Strategies for Crowdsourcing Ideas in the Public Sector
Having a good platform is not enough. The design behind it determines whether or not people engage in it and whether or not it is useful in yielding results. These are the fundamental approaches to ideas of crowdsourcing in the public sector.
You should clearly define your problem before you start to develop your solution.
- Any fuzzy questions will receive fuzzy answers.
The question ‘How can the city be made better?’ or even ‘What are the problems in the city and how can they be solved?’ is too broad. “How can we make our bus stops safer at night?” provides people with something to work on.
Before you get started, establish the objective, budget, and decisions that the input can assist you with.
- Select the appropriate technique.
There are several instruments that can be used for each objective. Some of the more common methods are described below:
| Method | Best For | Typical Output |
| Idea portals | Gathering open suggestions from residents | Ranked list of citizen proposals |
| Participatory budgeting | Deciding how to spend part of a public budget | Voted funding priorities |
| Innovation challenges | Solving a specific technical or service problem | Prototypes, solutions, or prize winners |
| Online policy consultations | Drafting or reviewing laws and regulations | Public comments and revised drafts |
| Employee idea programs | Improving internal government processes | Process and efficiency suggestions |
- Make Participation Easy
Long registration forms drive people down the drain. Keep sign up process brief and mobile-friendly. Provide services in multiple languages when there is a need.
It is also important that the expression be simple. Avoid legal and technical jargon in calls for ideas.
- Discuss with openess how ideas are to be applied
People volunteer because they are aware that they are needed. Express early the agency’s limitations and capabilities. Identify the person(s) who will review concepts, how they will be scored, and when they will be decided.
It is better to tell the truth than to lie.
- Connect with those who are typically unengaged.
The same active voices can be found on online tools. Combine face-to-face with digital engagement of the community, local leaders, and libraries. This will help to make sure that older people, those with below-average incomes, and those without access to the internet are represented.
- Set up the feedback loop.
Report back to participants what took place. Present selected ideas, non-selected ideas, and why they were selected. Any update, even a small one, is a sign of respect and reassurance to people to return the next time.
Real Examples of Crowdsourcing Ideas in the Public Sector
Studying is shown through real projects! Below are a few examples of public sector crowdsourcing initiatives are well known around the world.
Better Reykjavik, Iceland
With the help of the Citizens Foundation, Reykjavík’s online platform allows its citizens to suggest and discuss ideas for the city. City officials consider ideas which are supported enough. It has been in use since approximately 2010 and is frequently referred to as a model of digital participation.
Challenge.gov, United States
Challenge.gov was created in 2010 to offer a platform to prize competitions between U.S. federal agencies. Students and companies submit solutions to the agency that publishes a problem. It’s an example of the force of crowdsourcing, as a source of external knowledge about technical problems.
Decidim, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is working on the open-source Decidim platform for the purpose of allowing proposals, debates, and participatory budgeting. It’s used by many cities and organizations today and is a good example of a public technology.
Taiwan, Taiwan
As of 2014, vTaiwan is a website designed to enable officials, experts, and citizens to “connect” and talk about policy issues, including the regulation of ride-hailing services. A nice example of crowdsourcing ideas in public policy for complex issues.
Porto Alegre, Brazil
The city started a participatory budgeting project in 1989 in which a part of the public budget is made available to the people to decide what it is used for. The model has since been taken out to other cities around the world.
Iceland’s Constitutional Process
The draft text was put online by the Constitutional Council in Iceland in 2011 to solicit general public comments, including through social media. It is one of the rare instances of popular participation in the writing of a national constitution, but it was not a constitutional law.
| Example | Location | Approach |
| Better Reykjavik | Iceland | Online idea portal for city issues |
| Challenge.gov | United States | Federal prize competitions |
| Decidim | Barcelona, Spain | Open-source participation platform |
| Taiwan | Taiwan | Online policy consultation |
| Participatory budgeting | Porto Alegre, Brazil | Resident voting on public spending |
Common Challenges and How to Handle Them
The public sector can be a pain in the arse in terms of crowdsourcing ideas. Being able to recognize the risks at an early stage will allow you to plan around them.
Low participation: Make sure the campaign is marketed in schools, community organizations, and the community media.
- By using offline events and outreach, achieve balance with online input.
- Too many ideas—set rules and rules of categories to help staff work through.
- Unrealistic ideas: Communicate at the beginning legal and budget constraints.
- No follow through: set up a team to follow up and report back.
- Spam / abuse: Apply moderation rules and have clear community guidelines.
How to Measure Success
Counting the number of entries will not be enough. There’s real impact when better measures are taken.
The greater the number of people, the better! Lots of participants is great!
The amount of concepts that were considered and implemented.
Awareness of time for citizens’ response. Understanding of citizens’ response time
Public satisfaction with the process.
Increased savings and/or improved services due to implemented ideas
These outcomes will inform reflection and improvements in each round and be of value to leaders.
How to Start: A Simple Launch Plan
Decide on a particular issue to address, which the agency will work on.
Establish rules – time, budget, decision process.
Select a platform that is appropriate for your size and abilities.
Encourage promotion of call via online and offline media.
Discuss ideas with others, using explicit criteria for scoring.
Act, and report back, on the selection and justification.
Start small. A pilot project is much more educating than a large launch with no experience.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to get your ideas from others in the public sector, it’s best to have a genuine partnership. It is the citizens who have the experience, creativity, and local knowledge. Governments have authority and resources and can take action.
As the examples above demonstrate, goals need to be clear, tools need to be simple, communication must be honest, and follow-through action must be implemented. Trust is what slows people down; technology can be very helpful.
If you are just beginning your approaches to crowdsourcing ideas for the public sector, try one problem, one method, and one promise to submit back. Small-scale initiatives, with good effect, can have a long-term influence.
FAQs
What is crowdsourcing ideas in the public sector?
It is the process of collecting ideas, feedback, and solutions from citizens and other groups to help solve public problems. Governments use online platforms, contests, and consultations to do this.
Why is crowdsourcing ideas in the public sector important?
It brings local knowledge into decisions, improves trust, and can reduce costs. It also makes public institutions more open and accountable.
What are the best tools for crowdsourcing public ideas?
Popular options include open-source platforms such as Decidim, idea portals, participatory budgeting software, and challenge platforms. The best choice depends on your goal, budget, and community needs.
How can governments increase participation?
Keep the process simple, explain how input will be used, promote it widely, and include offline options. Sharing results afterward also encourages people to join again.
What are the risks of crowdsourcing ideas in the public sector?
The main risks are low or unequal participation, unrealistic expectations, and poor follow-up. Clear rules, strong outreach, and honest communication reduce these risks.
Is crowdsourcing the same as a public consultation?
Not exactly. A consultation usually asks for feedback on a set proposal. Crowdsourcing invites new ideas from the public, though the two methods are often used together.
