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Crowd problem solving, also known as crowd solving, is a form of crowd sourcing. Instead of a particular job being outsourced to the crowd, crowd solving outsources a particular problem in an attempt to find a solution to that problem. It mostly consists of the use of technology by a large amount of people to create a collective solution to a complex problem [Crowdsolving].
Crowd solving is not limited to only technological problems. Client firms use this technique to solve societal and global issues, as well. For example, through a game called Foldit, the structure of an AIDS-related enzyme was discovered [Hanna, 2018] . Crowd problem solving allowed for this advancement in medicine through the use of a "crowd" of gamers. Another example is the Solve organization formed by MIT. This establishment finds societal problems which need a solution and crowd sources them to people everywhere. The submitted solutions are usually tech-based and chosen "solvers" receive compensation for the solution they came up with. This is an example of crowd solving being fostered through incentive. However, there are multiple ways to enable this particular form of crowd sourcing, including the use of social networking as a platform and the motive of the people. This motive is made up of the desire to learn more, help others, and form a good reputation [Hustad, 2017].
Image: Moore, Elizabeth Armstrong. “Foldit.” Cnet.com, 7 Nov. 2011, www.cnet.com/news/scientists-pleasantly-shocked-by-skills-of-foldit-gamers/.
With every technique comes advantages and disadvantages. Crowd problem solving leads to market growth through the development of crowd sourcing firms, the solution and betterment of solutions which answer societal problems, and an increase in crowd sourcing importance due to global relevance. Crowd solving is also cost/time effective and, like crowd sourcing, it allows for the discovery of numerous new ideas within the brains of people outside certain companies and firms. A large concern that comes with crowd problem solving is the use of intellectual property and confidential information. When describing a problem for the public, confidential information of the client firm must remain private even if disclosed to people in the crowd. On the other hand, when intellectual property comes into play, the crowd must be protected. A firm should not be able to infringe on the rights of solutions that are not in use. These legal concerns are to be handled with care [Probst, 2015].
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References:
[Crowdsolving] “Crowdsolving.” Techopedia.com, www.techopedia.com/definition/29226/crowdsolving.
[Hanna, 2018] Hanna, Hala. “CrowdSolving: Open Innovation & Engineered Partnerships.” SOLVE MIT, 2018, solve.mit.edu/articles/how-we-crowdsolve-open-innovation-engineered-partnerships.
[Hustad, 2017] Hustad, Karis. “How MIT Solve Is Crowdsourcing Solutions to the World’s Biggest Problems.” Americaninno.com, 2017, www.americaninno.com/boston/campus-inno/how-mit-solve-is-crowdsourcing-solutions-to-the-worlds-biggest-problems/.
[Probst, 2015] Probst, Laurent, et al. “Collaborative Economy Crowdsolving.” European Union, Aug. 2015.
Moore, Elizabeth Armstrong. “Foldit.” Cnet.com, 7 Nov. 2011, www.cnet.com/news/scientists-pleasantly-shocked-by-skills-of-foldit-gamers/.
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