Group Meeting Week One

The group met at the Ugli to discuss Section 1: How We Got Here of Crowdsourcing by Jeff Howe. This section mainly focuses on the creation of crowdsourcing outlets and introduces the idea of ProAm (the professional amateur). This section begins with the history behind crowdsourcing and then details several examples of its success.

The History of Crowdsourcing:

• During the mid 19th century, the overeducation of the middle class led to dissatisfaction with their highly specialized careers which led to their desire to exercise other skills during leisure hours. pg. 29, 33 and 39
  
• What begins as a hobby quickly can turn into a fulfilling passion where the most rewarding work is created.
• For example, the website iStock allows anyone to post and sell their photography where only 4% actually "claim photographer as their main occupation." pg. 27
• Throughout the years, many internet sites have incorporated community aspects to generate new ideas and feedback, which increases productivity and consumer satisfaction
  

Examples of Crowdsourcing:

• Threadless.com: artists can create their own t-shirt designs where other community members vote for their favorite designs. They use incentive-based marketing where members receive credit for referring friends that later become customers, and winning designers receive up to $2,000, but more importantly acknowledgment from their peers.
  
• Linux: An open-source software developed by thousands of contributors both amateurs and professionals alike. Contributors disseminated the work to suit their own expertise. As more contributors submit their work, the reputability of Linux grows.
  
• InnoCentive/ Proctor & Gamble: Used out-of-house research for product development and opened communication between departments. Researchers sought solutions for Proctor & Gamble, not only to receive compensation, but to build their resume and to solve a meaningful challenge outside the workplace. The creation of Innocentive has helped triple P&G's net profit to $10 billion.
  
• We Are the Strange: Mike Belmont, an amateur filmmaker created a fan base through Youtube without the help of movie producers and eventually premiering a movie at the 2007 Sundance Festival. By showing clips on Youtube, he was able to receive feedback and perfect his videos the liking of the audience. This marked an important change in movie production with no middle-man, cutting cost and allowing fans to become more personally invested in the movie.
  
• eBird: An internet site where anyone can post bird sightings. Because of the large data submissions, are able to identify the pattern of flights that would not be able tracked with just professionals. This provides professionals more time to interpret the data.
  

Benefits of Crowdsourcing:

• Eliminates production costs
• Promotes globalization
  
• Expediates development
  
• Adds to a culture's intellectual capital
• Reduces work duplication
• Increases production efficiency
  
• Provides a space for creativity outside corporate structures
• No limit to potential ideas or contributors