Open NYU: Crowdsourcing

Governance Lab (GovLab) aims to improve people's lives by using technology to change the way we govern. The GovLab requested a Capstone team to undertake pilot projects in units across New York University to explore how crowdsourcing tools can help decisionmakers solve problems. Specifically, the crowdsourcing team researched ways in which organizations use crowdsourcing to make smarter decisions. This foundational research fueled the experimental models in the pilot projects. The team also used the research to write a series of case studies housed on the GovLab Wiki, launched this year and available as a resource to the public. Concurrently, the team produced an online research tool to help sort the extensive information available on crowdsourcing. The goal of the tool is to provide an easy and accessible way for those interested in engaging with crowdsourcing to determine which models are most appropriate to meet their needs.