{"id":13565,"date":"2015-10-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/language-of-crowdsourcing\/"},"modified":"2020-06-23T16:25:39","modified_gmt":"2020-06-23T21:25:39","slug":"language-of-crowdsourcing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/language-of-crowdsourcing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Language of Crowdsourcing: 5 Questions to Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/div>\n

\u201cWe want top-line growth and to protect our bottom-line, and I need <\/strong>your<\/strong> ideas on how to make that happen!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Crowdsourcing innovation works best when the crowd knows exactly what\u00a0issue\u00a0they\u2019re trying to address. Although the statement above is a fictitious one, it\u2019s not far away from what\u2019s often said \u2014 or shouted \u2014 in boardrooms across the globe. The problem with this demand is that most people in\u00a0the crowd have\u00a0never even been inside the boardroom, and aren\u2019t likely to be going there soon. And that means they don\u2019t understand the phrases, jargon, and other language specific to the executives who practically live there.<\/p>\n

Lost in Translation, Lost in the Crowd
\nBeing multi-lingual isn\u2019t a requirement for every role, but we often forget that there are always<\/em> several dialects being used throughout an organization (even if they\u2019re technically in the same language). The standard tactic for dealing with being misunderstood is, of course, to keep talking, becoming louder and louder with each repetition. And although this can be\u00a0an\u00a0amusing distraction for onlookers, it usually ends in frustration (and more yelling) for all\u00a0parties involved.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the same dynamic between a\u00a0leader and the\u00a0crowd. There\u2019s no point in\u00a0repeating yourself if what you said wasn\u2019t clear to begin with; you need to try a different approach. The\u00a0people working for you operate in a variety of environments, and focus on goals and tasks specific to their role.\u00a0If you want their ideas for solutions\u00a0outside of their day-to-day scope, you\u2019ll need to be prepared to explain what you want.<\/p>\n

Asked and Answered: Crucial\u00a0Crowdsourcing Questions
\nThe phrase we like to use is \u201cproblem translation\u201d \u2014 in other words, I need to understand your problem in order to help you solve it. Never assume that everyone will immediately understand your ask (or that they should). You must express what the problem is, and what it would mean to solve it.<\/p>\n

So: how can you translate the problem or goal so that the entire crowd can understand it? Ask these crucial questions before handing over the reins to your crowd:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Why is the problem important?<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The crowd needs to understand why they should take notice and get involved. Helping people to see what the current impact of a challenge is and what will happen in the future if it\u2019s not solved is really\u00a0helpful. People need to be moved to take action.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Does the problem need to be broken down?<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If the problem is significant, it helps\u00a0to break it down into smaller segments. For example, if the overarching goal\u00a0is to get ideas on increasing revenue growth, solicit ideas\u00a0about improving the selling process, pricing aspects, products or services, or\u00a0competitor knowledge. It\u2019s easier for the crowd\u00a0to address pieces of such a major initiative than to attack the entire thing right away, which could be intimidating.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Are there any constraints?<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Unfortunately, it\u2019s unlikely that you have a blank canvas and unlimited funds to develop ideas. Therefore, make sure that the crowd is aware of any\u00a0constraints. What\u2019s out of bounds and shouldn\u2019t be touched? What funds are available, and how many ideas are you looking to take forward? Sharing this information\u00a0helps the crowd avoid unnecessary pitfalls and wasted time.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. What does a good idea look like?<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Rather than giving an example of a good idea (if you have this, why you asking for others?)\u00a0\u2013 make an effort to understand and communicate the\u00a0characteristics of a good idea and what makes it likely to be successful. These characteristics could include things such as\u00a0implementation time, feasibility,\u00a0and whether the idea aligns\u00a0to strategic goals and objectives. Again, this helps the\u00a0crowd submit and\u00a0identify\u00a0ideas that are truly\u00a0actionable.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Are you speaking\u00a0the same language?<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Be careful not to use corporate buzzwords, slang, acronyms, and jargon. It\u2019s really easy to do, but can quickly disengage the crowd, and make them feel inadequate or confused\u00a0because they don\u2019t understand the words you\u2019re using. This is especially important if your crowd is global. Use simple language so your challenge can be explained\u00a0to and understood by anyone in the organization.<\/p>\n

            If you take time to answer these questions, your crowd will understand what their ideas must do, amplifying your ability to find valuable, viable solutions to business challenges \u2014 big and small.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            \u201cWe want top-line growth and to protect our bottom-line, and I need your ideas on how to make that happen!\u201d Crowdsourcing innovation works best when the crowd knows exactly what\u00a0issue\u00a0they\u2019re trying to address. Although the statement above is a fictitious one, it\u2019s not far away from what\u2019s often said \u2014 or shouted \u2014 in boardrooms…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-innovation-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Language of Crowdsourcing: 5 Questions to Ask - Spigit<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to understand the language of crowdsourcing? 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