Open innovation enabled through crowdsourcing is one of the hottest topics in management strategy today. Particularly striking – and of vital importance to the world – are the pioneering efforts to dramatically increase the number and diversity of people engaged by applying crowdsourcing technology and open innovation to solving social, environmental and economic sustainability challenges.

Leading companies, NGO’s and foundations are harnessing our collective ingenuity, posing questions such as: What innovations will transform the system to one that advances global economic growth, drives human prosperity and replenishes the planet’s resources? What new, more sustainable ways to design, recycle, distribute or transport packaging could our company adopt? How could our company’s products be repurposed or applied to solve environmental challenges?

This book profiles initiatives of companies, NGO’s and technology providers using crowdsourcing to develop solutions to global problems. The focus is on the applications of crowdsourcing for innovation, engagement and market intelligence. CrowdRising sets out, as context, the daunting challenges and emerging shifts, then highlights the experiences of leaders and early adopters, identifies implementation guidelines, critical success factors and lessons learned, and finally projects where the field is going in the future.