Innovations in e-Business: Can Government Contracting be Adapted to Use Crowdsourcing and Open Innovation

摘要

This report investigates the scope and boundaries surrounding Open Innovation methodologies, Web 2.0 technologies and Crowdsourcing to determine their appropriateness for government use and how/when they can be used. Open Innovation methodology revolutionizes the inflow and outflow of organizational information and the administration of intellectual property. It brings together individuals with diverse talents across multiple disciplines to collaborate on projects. Web 2.0 technologies include Wikis, blogs, video-sharing and social- networking sites, used for more efficient communication and knowledge sharing. Crowdsourcing is an online collaborative decision-making effort that reaches thousands of people at one time, who deliver bits and pieces of information, which are compiled into an innovative product or service. This process captures talent from research institutes, universities, non-profit organizations, small businesses, consultants, inventors and others to produce solutions to tasks, pioneer new technologies, or capture, systematize, and examine large amounts of data. Commercial businesses are using these technologies and methodologies to successfully bring new products to market, improve their existing products and improve customer service. The government may benefit in a similar manner.