Crowdsourcing Solutions for Innovation Problems: The Interplay of Expertise and Knowledge Search
Oguz Ali Acar, Jan van den Ende · Academy of Management Proceedings · 2014
Increasing number of organizations are opening up and broadcasting their innovation problems online in an attempt to tap into the diverse knowledge and creative potential of people all over the world. Nevertheless, research on knowledge mechanisms behind the creation of these novel solutions in crowdsourcing platforms is limited. In this project, we aim to unpack the role of knowledge in problem solving. More specifically, we propose that the effect of expertise on problem solving performance is contingent on knowledge search behavior conducted for solving the problem. By examining solutions developed for 139 innovation problems that are broadcasted for crowdsourcing in InnoCentive, we show how expertise will influence the quality of solutions depending on the knowledge search depth and breadth. Our study contributes to strategy literature by explaining knowledge mechanisms behind solving problems that emerged in new product development processes and to psychology literature by shedding light on the controversy around the expertise and problem solving performance.