The process of gathering new business ideas from consumers - a.k.a. crowdsourcing - is getting a lot of attention at the moment, according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Innovator Blog.
However, effective crowdsourcing isn't as easy as calling for ideas and watching innovation unfold before your eyes. Before embarking on the process it's suggested the following imperatives are considered:
- Extra manpower - don't allow staff to drown in a sea of customer submitted ideas; ensure you have the manpower to make the process run smoothly
- Plan ahead - ensure there is a defined pathway for the review and evaluation of ideas; and show your goodwill by getting back to contributors with proof their ideas have been considered
- It's not for every business - before you start to crowdsource carefully consider whether the strategy has the potential to deliver innovative results for your business
For examples of crowdsourced innovation in action check out Dell's IdeaStorm or mystarbucksidea.com.
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