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Jan 15, 2008

"Much of what we've seen so far suggests that a large group of diverse individuals will come up with better and more robust forecasts and make more intelligent decisions than even the most skilled "decision maker."" --James Surowiecki

Competing for Change

Everybody loves a contest, from highbrow tests of knowledge like "Jeopardy," to rollicking displays of artistic ambition like "American Idol". Now, Ashoka's Changemakers.net is tapping into the same sporting instinct to inspire people to think, connect, and help, using one of the Internet's signature movements: open sourcing. The group hosts online competitions in which contestants offer solutions to specific social problems. Recent topics: reduce domestic violence, how to prepare and respond to disasters, and how to use interactive video games to improve health and health care. Anyone can submit a program, and anyone with web access can be a judge and vote for a favorite entry, as in "American Idol." This Stanford Social Innovation Review describes how Changemakers' "collaborative competitions" harness the wisdom of crowds for the greater good.