Final answer:
Del-Monte Foods employed crowdsourcing to develop a new dog treat, drawing on the collective insights from dog owners who consider their pets as family, thus enabling customer participation in product creation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Del-Monte Foods wanted to develop a new dog treat by soliciting input online from dog owners regarding what their pets would consider the perfect breakfast, they were engaging in crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing is a form of social media engagement where a company leverages the collective intelligence and creativity of the public to gather ideas, content, and solutions. This method allows customers to participate directly in the product development process, contributing to a sense of community and investment in the final product.