Knowledge, Information, and Innovation (KIN) Group

• In Event: Startups, Innovation, Technology, and the Entrepreneurship Economy

Abstract

Grand challenges, such as poverty and climate change, often elude simple solutions. Complex networks of actors hold different and even conflicting views on the nature and causes of the problems. Diverse stakeholders must also grapple with a very uncertain future. The best solutions are unknown and the problems themselves are ill-defined (Ferarro, Etzion, & Gehman, 2015).

Accordingly, calls are made for organizational efforts that mobilize widespread collaboration and bring together stakeholders with more diverse expertise and experience (George et al., 2016). Crowdsourcing (Howe, 2006) Is a promising tool for supporting collaborative efforts of diverse actors. Recent crowdsourcing initiatives such as Openideo and Climate Co-lab bring crowdsourcing to the domain of societal problems.

Despite the increasing use of crowdsourcing for tackling societal challenges, we still lack knowledge on how such tools might be optimally designed and organized in this context. How can crowdsourcing be designed for solving problems that are ill-defined? What mechanisms are important for coordinating diverse stakeholder participation across the phases of the challenge? How can crowdsourcing be harnessed for multiple forms of value (social, environmental, and economic)?

My contribution to this panel will provide insights into the above research questions by reporting on the results of a longitudinal case study of a multi-stakeholder crowdsourcing project designed to tackle environmental sustainability challenges called Our Oceans Challenge. Preliminary answers to these questions are given based on extended participant observation, platform data, and over 65 in-depth interviews. Results show that the crowdsourcing process must be modified to be multi-vocal- that is open to diverse participants across all phases of the challenge (not just the ideation phase). Further, this must be managed through distributed experimentation that stimulates multi-vocal discussions in which participants reflect on their connection to the problem, their individual interests, and how these connect to the interests of the other participants.

Author

• Amanda J. Porter, VU U Amsterdam