Articulate the goals. Define a clear and compelling goal and write it down so it can be clearly articulated to others. What constitutes success? What outputs and outcomes are you seeking?

Choose participants. Decide when you want to mobilize the crowd during your problem-solving process. You have the option, for example, to incorporate “the crowd” at a foundational stage to help define the problem at the outset or, later, to refine a definition already crafted. (See exercise 2 for more on choosing participants.)

Conduct outreach. Advertise the opportunity to participate via multiple channels.

Select the owner. Make sure the owner and coordinator of the process has the resources and ability to manage the process, to respond to and implement what users propose.

Select incentives. Decide on the incentives by asking, “What will motivate people to contribute?” Decide whether to use financial or nonfinancial incentives (or a mix). Incentives do not have to be financial. In fact, research shows that intrinsic, namely, nonfinancial, incentives often work better than cash prizes do.

Define the work. Chunk the work you want people to do into manageable tasks.

Design the process. Clearly communicate the workflow from start to finish.

Evaluate outputs. Design a judging and evaluation process. Use tools to help you make sense of voluminous inputs.

Use the group’s work. Make the process relevant by devising and communicating a plan to make use of the output. If you are not going to use the input, do not wind up the machinery of participation.