New study on the challenges of crowdsourcing experienced by solvers

20/02/2019
 

A new study addressing the challenges of crowdsourcing from the perspective of the solvers was accepted for publication in the journal Research Policy (VHB-Jourqual 3: A; Impact factor: 4.661). The Open Access study entitled "Reconceptualizing the paradox of openness: How solvers navigate sharing-protecting tensions in crowdsourcing" was written in collaboration between J. Nils Foege (WWU Münster), Ghita D. Lauritzen (Copenhagen Business School, DK), Frank Tietze (University of Cambridge, UK) and Torsten-Oliver Salge (RWTH Aachen University).

The focus of the study is the reconceptualization of the openness paradox, i.e. the tension between knowledge sharing and protection, and the investigation of this paradox especially for individuals in outbound open innovation strategies.

Research Highlights:

  • The paradox of openness exists in outbound and inbound open innovation, and at the firm and the individual level.
  • The paradox of openness is least explored, yet most prevalent among individuals (i.e., solvers) engaging in outbound open innovation.
  • Solvers experience strong sharing-protecting tensions in crowdsourcing even in presence of a dedicated intermediary.
  • Solvers employ seven value appropriation practices (and configurations thereof) to navigate these tensions.
  • Solvers combine practices to separate and integrate the two opposing poles of sharing and protecting.

The Open Access study can be accessed via this link. We congratulate the authors!