[CS NPD 004] Types of crowds in crowdsourcing for NPD

According to Blackwell [8], there are some possible types of crowds:

Non qualified crowds

Solution providers are vetted only superficially before they are added to the network. Examples include Innocentive and NineSigma [www.ninesigma.com]. One advantage of non-qualified crowd is size, they tend to be large with many participants.

Pre-qualified crowds

Some companies, for example Proctor & Gamble, have gone to great lengths to create pre-qualified crowd of solution providers to ensure that they have the capabilities and sustainability appropriate to the challenges they may help address. The networks are managed so that confidential information and intellectual property are protected. They may include current suppliers, experts in particular fields, independent research and engineering companies, or virtually any other entity that the company thinks could add value to its innovation efforts.