Introduction
Since the advent of the internet and the emerging of user-generated media, for example, You Tube and Wikipedia, the process of sharing information has become an easy task, because of the great interaction tools that are provided by the internet. Currently, through the internet organizations and individuals can outsource most of their research work, market surveys, and even seek external assistance in solving critical organizational problems using processes such as crowdsourcing.
Crowdsourcing primarily entails outsourcing tasks to an online community who are supposed to offer correct solutions to such activities and offer a feedback to the outsourcer. Once such feedbacks have been received, they are reviewed and the right and best solution selected, the provider of such a solution is rewarded if the task had a price tag. As compared with most traditional outsourcing it is not only cheaper, but also an efficient and affordable way of getting viable business ideas and solutions to problems (Whitla 1-3). Considering this process involves the use of the “crowd” that may make it to have some disadvantages such as lack of originality and quality problems, crowdsourcing is one of the most important processes not only in research work, but also in business, because of its numerous applications.
Pros of CrowdSourcing
As compared to most outsourcing process, if well implemented and monitored, crowdsourcing is one of the most beneficial business processes, because of its numerous advantages. One primary advantage of crowd sourcing is that, the process can help an organization to reduce labor and research costs. When crowd sourcing an organization is only supposed to post its problem to the online community who are supposed to compete for a single price.
Hence, an organization is saved from incurring any costs associated with recruiting, training, and paying employees who are supposed to complete such a task. Another advantage that is closely related to this is that, this method offers organizations opportunities of gathering numerous creative ideas that are beneficial to the wellbeing of an organization. As compared to other outsourcing methods that may force one to waste a lot of time searching for individuals with the required expertise to perform specific tasks, crowdsourcing is faster, because the big pool of online individuals with required expertise.
This process can also help an organization to get employees with certain talents that an organization is searching for, when used as a platform of recruiting employees. Finally, this process is an important marketing and product development tool, because of the enormous number of individuals who have access to the internet (Whitla 3-9).
Cons of CrowdSourcing
Although a good methodology of getting tasks accomplished using minimum costs a within set limits and deadlines, this method is susceptible to leaking of information; hence, reducing the originality and confidentiality of most ideas got through crowd sourcing. In addition, although it is a good marketing strategy, if some outs outsourced tasks results in poor quality outcomes, an organization may lose the confidence and loyalty of its customers.
Further, because of the low motivational levels associated with this process, likelihoods of some respondents providing misleading, illegal or worthless information is high, more so in marketing surveys. On the other hand, this method has numerous hidden costs, which if not well considered may make it an expensive venture. For example, sometimes the cost of employing say two professionals to handle certain tasks can be cheaper, as compared to employing professionals to review numerous submissions from the online community (Watson 1).
Conclusion
In conclusion, although crowd sourcing has some disadvantages, this are problems that an organization can avoid it if organizes well any of its crowdsourcing venture. Therefore, crowdsourcing is a good business and research tool, because if offers organizations a chance of ensuring that tasks are accomplished by the best professionals and within set limits using minimum funds.
Works Cited
Watson, Amy. How to use crowdsourcing successfully. PRlog. 2009. Web.
Whitla, Paul. CrowdSourcing and its application in marketing activities. Lingnan University. 2007. Web.