This document provides a comparison of different online platforms for public managers to use for idea generation and public engagement. It describes the purpose and key features of 11 platforms: Bubble Ideas, Crowd Wise, Delib Dialogue App, Google Moderator, IdeaScale, Microsoft Town Hall, PubliVate, Salesforce Ideas, Spigit, UserVoice, and compares what each platform is well-suited for and its pricing information. The document aims to help public managers choose a platform that best fits their specific needs and objectives.

1. www.CollaborationProject.org
Tools for Online
Idea Generation
A Comparison of Technology Platforms
for Public Managers
March 2011

2. Overview
The past several years have seen a dramatic increase in the use of web 2.0 tools at all levels of
government. Beyond simply using them as communication vehicles, many public managers
have adopted these tools as a means to solicit and aggregate ideas from employees and
external stakeholders on how to solve problems and enhance government services. However,
the plethora of platforms and variety of functionalities available can make a manager’s choice
of technology challenging.
This comparison of di erent platforms is part of a series developed by the National Academy of
Public Administration’s Collaboration Project based on our experience conducting online
stakeholder consultations with government. It aims to assist public managers early in the
planning process of such an initiative by comparing the purposes and functionalities of
di erent ideation tools. Because the features of each of these tools are constantly being
updated and enhanced, we intend this document to be a “living” resource that will be updated
to re ect changes over time.
Other resources in the Collaboration Project’s series on conducting online stakeholder
engagement, including the Online Dialogue Brainstorm Guide, can be found at
www.collaborationproject.org.
Please note: The information in this document is compiled from information
publicly available on the vendors’ websites, supplemented by the National
Academy of Public Administration’s rst-hand experience with several of the
technologies. The National Academy and the Collaboration Project are
technology-neutral: this document is not intended as an endorsement of
any particular technology or vendor. Please feel free to contact us at
collaborationproject@napawash.org to recommend changes or tools that
should be added to this document.

3. Considering your needs
Many technologies are commercially available for online idea generation, ranging from low-
cost, out-of-the-box tools to large scale, custom-built solutions. As such, many factors should
be considered in deciding which technology best ts your needs. These include:
 Duration of engagement. How long will the idea generation project
run? Will it be limited duration or an ongoing “market” of ideas?
 Community. Do you need to be able to identify your “power users,”
those whose ideas tend to be the most in uential? Do these users
need to stand out among participants?
 Responsiveness. Do you need to respond to ideas and comments as
the dialogue happens or provide updates on the status of particular
ideas?
 Output. What kinds of data and analytics do you need the technol-
ogy to provide?
 Structure of dialogue. Do the ideas need to be strictly organized or
siloed (e.g., by topic), or can all ideas mingle together?
 Cost and resources. What budgetary and sta resources can you
allocate to this engagement?
 Support. What degree of technical support might you need from the
vendor?
 Deployment. How quickly do you need to launch the engagement?
Remember:
While deciding on a technology is important, this decision
is best made by aligning the the technology to your core
purpose for engagement. In other words, let the tools t
your needs, not vice-versa.

4. Platform Description What it does well What it gives the Pricing Examples
decision-maker
Bubble Bubble Ideas is an off-the- • Hosts a two-way • An aggregation of • Free: Up to 50,000 server Mock Bubble Ideas
Ideas shelf idea generation tool conversation in which participants’ suggestions hits for the duration of Gov 2.0 site
enabling idea aggregation the host can respond to sorted by the thumbs-up- the dialogue; 2
Solve Oil Spill
and two-way input, particularly by thumbs-down votes moderator accounts
communication between updating the status of received for each idea
• $99/mo: Up to 500,000
host and participants. The suggestions over time
• A listing of ideas server hits; custom URL; 4
platform allows users to
• Allows a degree of categorized and sorted moderator accounts
submit, comment, and vote
custom design and by status (e.g., under
on ideas. The host can • $299/mo: Up to 2 million
branding review, in progress,
update users on the status server hits; 8 moderator
implemented)
of ideas and shape the user accounts; sentiment/
experience by allowing • Comment threads for semantic analysis;
only-positive or positive each idea that refine analytics/reporting
and negative ratings. ideas further
• $499/mo: Up to 7 million
• Analysis of the discussion server hits; unlimited
using advanced moderator accounts;
qualitative tools enhanced security; API
access; sentiment/
semantic analysis;
analytics/reporting
Crowd Crowd Wise is a • Helps a dialogue host • Results that reflect a Product is still in (Product is still in
Wise participative tool for move engagement process that moves development, with plans to development)
making collective decisions efforts beyond ideation toward consensus offer a free web-based tool.
by helping participants find and into decision-making
• A more holistic view of
common ground, avoid
• Offers a method to find the community’s
polarization, and achieve
common ground preferences, which could
productive outcomes. The
between different be useful when the
platform works using
interests or stakeholder decision needs to be
consensus voting, in which
groups supported by a large
participants suggest,
portion of the
discuss, and prioritize
constituency
options for a decision,
allowing for common-
ground options to emerge
that might not otherwise
be considered.

5. Platform Description What it does well What it gives the Pricing Examples
decision-maker
Delib Delib’s Dialogue App is an • Aggregates ideas based • An aggregation of ideas • Free: Up to 100 users for National Dialogue
Dialogue idea-generation and on a simple 5-star rating sorted by average rating 100-day duration on the Homeland
App dialogue tool built for a scale in a way that shows on a 5-star scale, by Security Review
• $350/mo: One forum;
range of civic-engagement the “average” level of volume of comments,
unlimited users and UK Spending
activities. The tool allows support of participants and by time submitted
moderators; custom logo Challenge
idea submission and
• Supports more open- • Comment threads for
commenting and uses a • $550/mo: Up to 8 National Dialogue
ended dialogue than each idea that refine
five-star rating system on discussion forums; on Green and
simply idea generation ideas further
which each idea’s ratings custom demographic Healthy Homes
are averaged. The Dialogue • Provides consulting in • An aggregation of the fields; downloadable
App offers a simple, user- combination with topics discussed using reports (CSV)
friendly interface and technology to lend “tags,” which be useful
Further pricing depends on
features intuitive tagging expertise in stakeholder for navigating through
scope and a menu of
functionality to allow for consultation the ideas
additional features,
visualization of cross- • Allows for a range of including advice and
cutting themes. Delib also custom design and consultation by Delib staff.
offers consultative services branding, from default to Delib also offers mobile
on the engagement fully “white-labeled” apps.
process to pair with a
technology solution.
Google Google Moderator is a tool • Prioritizes simple • A quick aggregation of Google Moderator is free White House Open
Moderator that allows distributed questions or short ideas short, simple questions or for organizations using for Questions (now
communities to submit and from a group, without ideas Google Apps or for closed—link goes
vote on questions for talks, the need for deeper individual users with to project
presentations and events. discussion Google accounts. summary)
The platform allows
• Gathers and sorts Google Apps
participants to promote or
questions or ideas in real- Feature Requests
demote each submission
time during an event
by a simple check mark
mechanism.

6. Platform Description What it does well What it gives the Pricing Examples
decision-maker
IdeaScale IdeaScale is an off-the-shelf • Aggregates ideas with • An aggregation of • Free: Unlimited ideas and Open Department
platform that enables idea simple up-or-down votes participants’ ideas comments from of Transportation
generation and refinement in a way that distinctly prioritized by simple unlimited users; e-mail
Open NASA
through a simple, intuitive separates popular ideas thumbs-up/thumbs- and twitter integration; 1
thumbs-up/thumbs-down from unpopular ones down votes on each idea moderator account NARA Open
rating tool. This tool Government Idea
• Helps generate ideas and • A sorting of ideas into • $15/mo: Addition of a
aggregates ratings into a Forum
discussion without hierarchical categories, custom logo
net vote total, which makes
needing to infer users’ e.g., by topic
negative ratings possible. • $99/mo: Customized site
magnitude of
IdeaScale allows for a • Comment threads for design; file attachments;
agreement/disagreement
moderate degree of each idea that refine custom registration fields
customization in look-and- • Allows host to structure ideas further
feel and also allows the conversation using pre-
discussion to be structured set categories
into hierarchical categories. • Allows a degree of
IdeaScale was used as the custom design and
platform to gather input branding
into the open government
plans for 24 federal
agencies in 2009.
Microsoft Microsoft Town Hall is an • Provides a robust web • An aggregation of TownHall is free from America Speaking
Town Hall ideation tool enabling platform to aggregate participants’ ideas Microsoft but requires Out
users to voice opinions, the top questions or prioritized by simple hosting on Windows Azure,
NASA Martian
identify problems, offer ideas on a constituency’s thumbs-up/thumbs- a platform for managing
Town Hall
solutions and come mind down votes on each idea cloud-based services.
together around common Windows Azure pricing
• Supports dialogue with • An aggregation of the
interests and concerns. It is begins at $59.95/month.
leaders that need to topics discussed using
also a for generating and
check the pulse of the “tags,” which be useful
aggregating questions,
public or stakeholders on for navigating through
allowing the most popular
a range of issues the ideas
or relevant questions to
bubble to the top. • Comment threads for
each idea that refine
ideas further

7. Platform Description What it does well What it gives the Pricing Examples
decision-maker
PubliVate The PubliVate Engagement • Aggregates ideas based • An aggregation of ideas Pricing details are not Ontario Ministry of
Platform is an ideation tool on user ratings sorted by participant publicly available. Municipal Affairs
that allows participants to votes and Housing
• Allows for a high degree
post, view, comment, and
of design customization • Comment threads for
vote on ideas that respond
each idea that refine
to a question. The platform • Supports initiatives
ideas further
is marketed toward needing in-depth
“challenges” in which analytical reporting
participants submit
responses to a challenge
issued by the host.
Examples of the platform’s
use generally have a high
degree of design
customization.
Salesforce Salesforce Ideas is an out- • Hosts a two-way • An aggregation of ideas Salesforce Ideas is My Starbucks Idea
Ideas of-the-box tool enabling conversation in which sorted by votes of packaged with other
Salesforce Idea
constructive idea the host can respond to “promote”/”demote” Salesforce cloud services in
Exchange
generation with a input, particularly by 3 tiers of pricing, ranging
• A sorting of ideas by
particular focus on creating updating the status of from $65/month per user
topic area
a personalized, interactive suggestions over time to $260/month per user.
user experience. The • Comment threads for
• Supports longer-term
platform can host parallel each idea that refine
innovation efforts in
discussions for different ideas further
which the user
communities • Identification of “power
community grows and
simultaneously and users,” whose ideas have
segments into groups
empowers responsiveness gained the most traction
based on areas of interest
through idea status in the community
updates and blog • Allows a degree of
integration. custom design and
branding

8. Platform Description What it does well What it gives the Pricing Examples
decision-maker
Spigit Spigit is an innovation- • Hosts a two-way • An ongoing market of Price depends on services Manor Labs
management platform conversation in which ideas that decision- and level of customization, (Manor, TX)
intended to facilitate the the host can respond to makers can use as a but the basic package
New York City
generation of ideas over a input, particularly by source for innovation and starts at $499/month.
“Simplicity”
long-term process. Spigit updating the status of continuous improvement
allows for the creation of suggestions over time
• A collection of
discussion forums where
• Supports longer-term aggregated ideas by
users can submit ideas and
innovation efforts in participants’ support
vote on the best ones over
which the user
time. It also enables a two- • Identification and
community grows and
way conversation in which recognition of “power
segments into groups
the host recognizes ideas, users,” those whose ideas
based on areas of interest
updates the status of have gained the most
suggestions, and identifies • Allows for extensive of traction in the
“power users,” those whose custom design and community
ideas gain the most branding
traction in the community. • Supports the creation of
The product’s design is detailed user profiles
generally highly
customized, and the • Highlights the
platform includes a suite of participation of “power
other social media tools as users”
well, such as profiles, blogs,
and wikis, for added
dimensions of
collaboration.

9. Platform Description What it does well What it gives the Pricing Examples
decision-maker
UserVoice UserVoice is an off-the- • Hosts a two-way • An aggregation of • Free: Offers one Better Buy
shelf idea generation tool conversation in which the participants’ ideas and administrator account
Ideas for Seattle
originally built for product host can respond to suggestions sorted by and one forum, which
improvement, but input, particularly by level of support and can be used by up to 100 Ideas 4 Oregon
increasingly used for updating the status of volume of conversation voters
engagement initiatives suggestions over time
• Comment threads for • $19/mo (Tin): Offers
involving two-way
• Steers dialogue toward each idea that refine analytics, moderation
communication between
popular ideas, as ideas further tools, domain aliasing, up
host and participants. The
opposed to focusing on to 100 voters, unlimited
platform is most useful for • Identification and
disagreements forums, private forums,
ideation specifically, as recognition of “power
• Allows a degree of users,” whose ideas have and email support
opposed to open-ended
dialogue, and provides custom design and gained the most traction • $89/mo (Bronze): Offers
intuitive mechanisms for branding in the community single sign-on (using
host to show Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
responsiveness to input. and the ability to export
The tool enables idea dialogue data to excel or
submission and CSV. Allows up to 1,000
commenting and requires voters
users to budget their votes
• $289/mo (Silver): Offers
by allocating 0-3 votes per
commercial API, SSL
idea, up to a pre-set limit in
encryption, and up to
each discussion forum.
5,000 voters
• $589/mo (Gold): Allows
"white labeling"/
customizable branding
and design in CSS
Discounts are available for
public-facing, government-
sponsored forums

10. About the Collaboration Project
The Collaboration Project (www.collaborationproject.org) is an independent forum of leaders
who share a commitment to the adoption and use of collaborative technologies to solve com-
plex problems of public management. With the support of dedicated sta and access to the
National Academy’s distinguished Fellows and other subject matter experts, the Collaboration
Project convenes members in person and online to share best practices; produces research on
the opportunities and challenges of collaboration; and assists agencies in implementing
collaborative tools and approaches.
For more information:
 Danielle Germain, Director
(202) 204-3632
collaborationproject@napawash.org
 Daniel Honker, Analyst
(202) 204-3633
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
See collaborationproject.org/copyright for more information.

11. The National Academy of Public Administration is a non-pro t, independent coalition of top public manage-
ment and organizational leaders who tackle the nation’s most critical and complex challenges. With a
network of more than 650 distinguished Fellows and an experienced professional sta , the Academy is
uniquely quali ed and trusted across government to provide objective advice and practical solutions based
on systematic research and expert analysis. Established in 1967 and chartered by Congress, the Academy
continues to make a positive impact by helping federal, state and local governments respond e ectively to
current circumstances and changing conditions.
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Phone: 202-347-3190 • Fax: 202-393-0993