In recent years, the concept of crowdsourcing has become an increasingly common tool used in response to large scale crises and world events. From the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010, to the Covid-19 solutions marketplace in Israel last year; crowdsourcing has been proven as an effective way to gather valuable innovative solutions to urgent strategic challenges.

So, in March 2021 when one of the world’s busiest trade routes became firmly blocked by a seemingly immovable container ship, it was another opportunity for crowdsourcing to prove its value. However, as we will see this concept was not effectively utilized and in the end it took a week to move the ship, holding up a staggering $9.6bn of trade per day, and incurring millions in losses for multiple companies.

In this article we will share crowdsourcing best practices from the world of business, where this methodology is being used in an incredibly effective way to generate ROI for leading companies across the globe.

Read on to discover how this concept might benefit you and your company, no matter the how big or small the challenges you face are…

How Was Crowdsourcing Utilized?

Traditionally the party – be it company or individual – who is closest to the challenge or issue is the one to launch the crowdsourcing ‘call for ideas’. This can work in a variety of ways, but in simple terms the individual ‘sources’ ideas from a large ‘crowd’ of individuals, with the hope of discovering an innovative groundbreaking solution that might not have been considered otherwise.

With the Suez Canal Obstruction of 2021, it was naturally the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) that was responsible for resolving the issue. The SCA was initially quick to call in the experts, and even had an offer of help from the US Navy, however, from what we can see it does not look like they made any kind of effort to employ crowdsourcing best practices on a larger scale. In the end the issue was solved not through innovation, but persistence and determination. The ship was eventually dislodged on 29th of March as the result of dredging effort by a company called Boskalis.

What we did see is some third-party crowdsourcing efforts on behalf of the SCA. We can see that on the 26^th of March The Guardian published a request for ideas to solve the crisis, and at a similar time so did Businessinsider. Of course, not every idea was serious but many of them were highly technical and well-thought out, however it does not appear that either of them contributed to the eventual outcome.

1. Don’t Always Rely on ‘Prevailing Logic’

Obstructions on the Suez Canal are not a new phenomenon. In 2017 it was blocked for a few hours by the OOCL Japan, in 2006 it was blocked by the Okal King Dor for 8 hours, and before that in 2004 the Tropic Brilliance became lodged for 3 whole days. So, when the Ever Given became lodged in 2021, it’s safe to assume that the SCA was confident that they would be able to resolve the issue within a similar time frame.

However, as the days went on with little sign of progress, it became increasingly clear that the SCA would not be able to rely on the same methods that they had used in the past to achieve a similar outcome. This is incredibly relevant in the world of business, where many organizations are happy to continue using existing solutions rather than looking for new and better ones.

While the ship might have only been blocked for 6 days in total, this is an entirely unacceptable ‘outage period’ considering the global significance of the Suez Canal as a service. Fortunately for the SCA, they have an absolute monopoly on shipping in the region – the only realistic alternative to using the route is to take the 15,000-mile detour around the horn of Africa. Ultimately, because the SCA has no competition there is very little pressure for them to innovate. This is not a luxury that is afforded to most organizations, so it is critical to be quick to crowdsource – don’t hesitate to ideate!

2. Get Your Ideas to the Correct People

Gathering ideas and adopting crowdsourcing best practices, is a fantastic way of gathering solutions and suggestions, but if these are not seen by the right people (those in the position to take action) then it renders the campaign pointless. With the Suez Canal obstruction, we saw crowdsourcing initiatives launched by third parties, but because these initiatives were not connected it’s very unlikely that any of the ideas reached the relevant individuals.

When crowdsourcing solutions, one of the most intimidating factors of a well-publicized crisis is the sheer quantity of ideas – it can seem impossible to sift through thousands of submissions and find ‘the gold from the gravel’. In the case of the BP oil crisis, they were forced to employ over 100 experts to review the 123,000 submissions that they received. Out of those it was eventually decided that only 30 were viable, however it took a lot of time and effort to get to that point.

Fortunately, large businesses have found a much more efficient way to manage a large number of ideas in the form of idea management software. These platforms – such as Qmarkets – allow businesses to employ artificial intelligence, crowd voting, and data mining to automate the initial process of idea evaluation. If BP or the SCA had utilized this type of platform, it could have allowed them to easily generate a highly reliable list of ideal solutions with a minimal investment of time or resources.

Crowdsourcing Innovation: Changing the world one idea at a time a Ted Talk by Rob Wilmot

3. Gather Ideas for Prevention Rather Than Cure

As cargo ships increase in size, it is becoming more problematic for canals to accommodate them, leaving crucial trade routes vulnerable. In 2006 the Panama Canal underwent an expansion that cost $3.1billion, only for bigger ships to be built that still can’t use the route. While the Suez Canal has only been blocked a handful of times since opening in 1869, 4 of those have occurred within the last 15 years. The Ever Given blockage caused a backlog of 400 ships, disrupting $9billion worth of goods, and costing Egypt an estimated $12-14mil per day. So surely, it’s time to take preventative measures to ensure a crisis of this magnitude does not occur again?

As this unfortunate example shows, companies cannot afford to wait for a crisis to find solutions to problems that they are already aware of. In the world of business, it is best-practice to employ crowdsourcing as part of a continuous improvement process. This provides employees and external stakeholders a way to share their suggestions for improving existing processes. While in this instance the obvious solution might be a single decisive action (for example, simply widening the canal), it is essential to also develop and assess incremental solutions that can accumulate to deliver an ideal outcome.

You Can’t Discover New Oceans Without Losing Sight of the Shore…

Crowdsourcing can be an incredibly powerful way to gather ideas and respond to a crisis, whether it is on a departmental, companywide, or global scale. But as we have seen its easy to get crowdsourcing wrong, so it’s critical to have the tools to support the process. A platform that has been built specifically for the purpose of crowdsourcing, is vital to gaining the most out of any crowdsourcing initiative.

Innovation itself has become essential to survival today as the ability to pivot and change is becoming a necessity to an ever-changing business environment. Proactively innovating against potential challenges safeguards your organization in times of crisis and creates an efficient and stable business in the long term.

While it is important to leverage the power of crowdsourcing best practices in business where large sums of money are sometimes on the line, it’s even more critical that this concept is employed more widely in the world at large, where the stakes are often much higher.

To discover how crowdsourcing might be able to help your organization in times of crisis, reach out to us and schedule a call with one of our experts today!

COVID-19, the worst recession since WW2, worldwide Black Lives Matter protests on police brutality – and we’re only 7 months into 2020. This year has given communities a lot to say and governments’ plenty to address, pushing civic engagement into the front of many minds. But the window for action in a crisis is small – and in times like this, solutions need to be found quickly.

Governments are more strained than ever; according to the International Monetary Fund, the global economy will take a ‘$12tn (£9.6tn) hit from the Covid-19 pandemic’. Thus, Civic Engagement has promptly become top of the agenda for many authorities looking to gain valuable insight into communities when prioritization and management of their activities is vital due to strained budgets. Our question is, how can governments effectively employ civic engagement  in today’s digital age, to not only help us navigate this uncertain disruptive period, but also to establish a ‘new normal’ upon which to build a better future.

Why Exactly is Civic Engagement Important?

Civic Engagement is defined as ‘any individual or group activity addressing issues of public concern… to protect public values or make a change or difference in the community’. A recent study by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy says that ‘civic engagement is most successful when it is part of a holistic approach to government and democratic reform, embedded in institutions.’ Therefore, civic engagement must be an essential part of government processes, and its success results, ‘in the form of better policies, an active and engaged citizenship, and increased legitimacy’.

This graph from the OECD represents the main objectives on why countries adopt open government strategies. Respondents to the survey on Open Government Co-ordination and Citizen participation in the Policy Cycle, overwhelmingly stated that improving transparency of the public sector was their main objective.

The Problem with Civic Engagement Historically

Forms of civic engagement vary from formal and informal activities including voting, surveys, opinion polls, community activities, societies and unions, and town hall meetings etc. These activities all influence decisions and policies in one way or another, but there are severe limitations. Townhall meetings and other community-led activities raise valid discussions and solutions to areas of public concern, but whilst necessary for creating community cohesion and conversation, these meetings are not an effective way of gaining insight into a whole community.

An Untapped Well: “The Wisdom of Crowds”

For truly effective civic engagement in the digital age, the entire community needs to be heard; of course, everyone is invited to participate in politics but there are stark inequalities in participation. According to the political scientist Arend Lijphart in his article; ‘Unequal Participation in Democracy’; ‘the inequality of representation and influence are not randomly distributed but systematically biased in favor of more privileged citizens – those with higher incomes, greater wealth, and better education – and against less advantaged citizens.’ This of course means that ‘unequal participation spells unequal influence – a major dilemma for representative democracy in which the “democratic responsiveness” [of elected officials] depends on citizen participation’.

“Expanding participation to include the marginalized will positively increase an engaged citizenship.”

Arend Lijphart

There have been numerous ways of tackling voter inequality, including the implementation of voter-friendly registration rules, longer voting hours, infrequent elections, and more. But other aspects of civic engagement remain an area largely dominated by the privileged, losing out on a plethora of insight and ideas from an untapped section of a community. Expanding participation to include the marginalized will positively increase an engaged citizenship.

Why 2020 Has Made Digital Civic Engagement More Important than Ever

1. Coronavirus & Lockdown – Innovating in Isolation       

Lockdown may have interrupted much of life, but there has been a ‘steady increase in community spirit’, whereby communities have seen an increase in volunteering for the NHS, community hubs and local charities. Authorities must be aware of the increased insight and value this can provide. Whilst traditional offline engagement methods are not appropriate during lockdown, the likelihood that individuals will go online to share their insight increases dramatically – a valuable resource authorities are yet to truly utilize. Authorities must provide digital platforms to constituents, whereby citizens can safely participate in social innovation and the democratic process, without delay.

As with any crisis, COVID-19 has brought a wave of public scrutiny; digital platforms also allow for the prioritization of ideas and suggestions, all whilst maintaining complete transparency throughout the ideation process. Once citizens are given a voice and are shown that their ideas are being seen and actioned, public satisfaction in government can increase.

2. BLM & Political Unrest – The Cost of Complacency

The Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality have arguably been 2020’s most significant example of civic engagement. It has been suggested that the movement has been the largest in US history; analysis suggests ‘that about 15 million to 26 million people in the United States have participated in demonstrations over the death of George Floyd and others in recent weeks’. In a study by Peter K Eisinger, he concluded that ‘protest represents a widely accepted, integral part of black politics in the city, while for whites protest is indeed unconventional’. Concerns of police brutality have dominated civic rights issues for decades but have never been satisfactorily addressed due to the demographic issues of ‘normal’ methods of civic engagement.

This video from Great Big Story shows the scale and impact that the Black Lives Matter movement has had, specifically in 2020.

According to AP News, law enforcement agencies spent $2.2 million in response to the BLM protests in Raleigh, North Carolina. On June 6^th there were 550 protests across the US so we can determine the protests may have cost up to $1billion. However, protests are a necessary form of civic engagement when issues of public concern have not been addressed appropriately. Providing a platform that engages and encourages all aspects of a community to voice their concerns – and have them effectively managed, is vital not only to stretched public budgets but for community cohesion and legitimizing marginalized community concerns.

3. Economic Recession & Recovery – Collaborating On

During recession economic activity is in a state of decline, indicated by factors such as large-scale unemployment and negative growth in a country’s GDP. Business contributes overwhelmingly to the state of an economy and it is it is vital that they innovate and pivot to stay afloat. In the past few months, we have seen government bail outs to damaged industries and the creation of government job retention schemes to keep the already damaged economy going. These initiatives are mostly a positive step in the right direction, but in many instances, they are not aligned with the actual urgent needs of the citizens. In order to improve this alignment and increase trust between citizens and government officials, it’s crucial to give citizens a voice. If governments can adopt this approach on a large scale – engaging all businesses and individuals with the economic challenges – the resulting innovation can provide a steady road to recovery.

Civic Engagement in the Digital Age

Today many civic engagement activities are online, from community forums to social media discussions. Utilizing traditional methods of civic engagement alongside online methods can broaden public participation; younger demographics are more likely to participate, and it can attract those who cannot attend usual offline civic activities, for example those who live in rural areas and the disabled. Online adoption can be easier to encourage; citizens can participate from home, according to their own schedules, whilst not actively changing their behavior.

The introduction of digital civic engagement tools and software allows governments to incentivize users to join, evaluate their suggestions and prioritize projects, all whilst keeping users up to date with the process. With so much going on this year, communities have more to say than ever, and the onus is on governments to provide a platform for those who have not been heard, encourage participation, and increase transparency.

Time for your Eureka Moment: Utilizing Civic Engagement Tools

Here at Qmarkets, we have created a solution tailored to help cities, municipalities and public sector departments drive civic engagement in the digital age.

The open innovation platform can help to engage citizens, residents, and local businesses without the need to build a dedicated platform, which is essential when solutions are time critical.

Eureka allows you to run targeted ‘idea challenges’ against your most urgent dilemmas and leverage the collective wisdom of your citizens to help overcome your challenges.

How Does Eureka Work?

1. Invite and encourage citizens from across the community to engage and contribute to current challenges
2. Proactively respond to challenges and gather ideas to help you navigate the changing corporate landscape
3. Develop, filter, and evaluate ideas to deliver innovation
4. Showcase your results to keep your citizens and happy and informed

With Eureka you can launch an open idea challenge for your citizens within 48 hours, sourcing solutions quickly and efficiently. Here at Qmarkets, we understand how tough it is to implement new strategies, so we are offering the Eureka platform free of charge until the 15^th August, to help cities, local governments and public sector departments combat the challenges that they currently face and source innovative solutions to your challenges.

Things Can Only Get Better…

2020 has increased challenges to governments worldwide; limited budgets and growing scrutiny have doubled the pressure to find innovative solutions to community concerns and implement policies that better meet the needs of constituents. The digital age has provided new methods of civic engagement, that alongside authentic methods can create increased citizen participation that will allow for wider insight and ideas on community challenges. Leveraging digital citizen engagement tools, such as Qmarket’s Eureka platform can help streamline the process, help manage ideas, and provide updates on government action.

Your citizens hold huge potential in unlocking the key to successful government action; launch your open idea challenge today!