Crowdsourcing and Risk-Management

Understanding of the risks and potentials associated with crowdsourcing in a business context

Doktorarbeit / Dissertation , 2014 , 501 Seiten , Note: 1,3

BWL - Sonstiges

The business world has become globally competitive. Innovation is less frequently undertaken in-house, in a closed and integrated way but transformed more into an open call where many actors are involved in the different steps of the innovation process.

It is therefore, imperative for organizations to gain competitive advantage by adopting new technologies to apply in company operations. Crowdsourcing Innovation encourages companies in their effort to re-evaluate as well as re-design business processes and diversify a greater task to a heterogeneous group of people for a common goal. The principal objective of this thesis is to identify crowdsourced innovation models and examine the usage in a business context in order to evaluate and establish methods of managing crowdsourcing innovation risks in organizations.

The increased potential of crowdsourcing as a tool for business development and innovation has prompted extensive research into this crucial field by academia. This thesis is an added endeavour to crowdsourcing investigative studies and makes a significant contribution to literature as well as commercial practice. In an effort to outline the research objectives, the research questions seek to provide an understanding of the risks associated with crowdsourcing, the potential of the concept to improve business practices and possible strategies that can be used to manage the identified risks.

An initial investigation of the extant literature traced the growth and development of crowdsourcing since its inception and revealed that the concept is marred with criticism and controversy such as economic constraints, social ramifications and ethical implications. An additional objective of the literature review was to critically scrutinise the assessment of crowdsourcing to enrich companies with near infinite problem solving capacities, its ability to pay for solutions, not failures and most importantly, to solve problems possibly faster and with reduced cost of operations. To enable the development of a conceptual risk-framework the thesis gives a detailed analysis of risk management, while defining fundamental aspects of risk regulations. The study encompassed a qualitative collective survey methodology, which was applied in form of a prepared online questionnaire template to a systematic random sample.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• 1.1 Introduction: The Role of Innovation in a Globalised World
• 1.2 Crowdsourcing Innovation: A New Paradigm for Business
• 1.3 Research Objectives and Questions
• 1.4 Thesis Structure and Outline
• Chapter 2: Literature Review
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 The Genesis and Evolution of Crowdsourcing
• 2.3 Critical Assessment of Crowdsourcing
• 2.4 The Role of Risk Management in Crowdsourcing
• 2.5 Theoretical Framework for Risk Management in Crowdsourcing
• 2.6 Conclusion
• Chapter 3: Research Methodology
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Research Design
• 3.3 Data Collection Methods
• 3.4 Sampling and Data Analysis
• 3.5 Ethical Considerations
• 3.6 Conclusion
• Chapter 4: Results and Analysis
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Analysis of Survey Data
• 4.3 Analysis of Interview Data
• 4.4 Key Findings and Discussion
• 4.5 Conclusion
• Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Discussion of Findings
• 5.3 Limitations of the Study
• 5.4 Implications for Future Research
• 5.5 Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis aims to explore the potential of crowdsourcing as a tool for innovation in businesses. By analyzing existing research and conducting a survey of industry experts and customers, the study investigates the risks associated with crowdsourcing, potential strategies for managing those risks, and the overall impact of this approach on business practices. The main objectives are to:

• Identify key models of crowdsourcing innovation and their applications in business contexts.
• Examine the various risks associated with implementing crowdsourcing within organizations.
• Develop and propose risk management strategies tailored to mitigate the identified risks in crowdsourcing projects.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies and assess their impact on the success of crowdsourcing initiatives.
• Contribute to a deeper understanding of crowdsourcing's role in driving innovation and enhancing business performance.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter sets the stage by discussing the growing significance of innovation in today's globalized business environment. It introduces the concept of crowdsourcing innovation as a disruptive and increasingly popular approach for businesses. The chapter outlines the key research objectives, questions, and the overall structure of the thesis.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

This chapter delves into the extensive body of research surrounding crowdsourcing. It examines its historical development, critical assessments of its strengths and weaknesses, and the emerging role of risk management within crowdsourcing initiatives. The chapter also provides a theoretical framework for understanding and managing risks associated with crowdsourcing.

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

This chapter details the research design, data collection methods, and analysis procedures employed in this study. It describes the survey questionnaire, the process of selecting participants, and the ethical considerations guiding the research. The chapter outlines how data from the survey and interviews were collected and analyzed.

Chapter 4: Results and Analysis

This chapter presents the key findings of the study, analyzing the survey and interview data. It explores how crowdsourcing affects different departments within organizations and identifies the prominent risks associated with this approach. The chapter highlights the significance of these findings and discusses their implications for both academic research and business practice.

Chapter 5: Discussion and Conclusion

This chapter provides a comprehensive discussion of the study's findings, considering their implications for the future of crowdsourcing. It highlights the potential benefits and limitations of this approach, offering recommendations for effective risk management and future research directions. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing research and its contribution to the growing understanding of crowdsourcing's impact on business innovation.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis focuses on the intersection of crowdsourcing, innovation, and risk management within a business context. The core concepts include: crowdsourcing innovation models, risk identification and analysis, risk management strategies, business process improvement, and organizational impact of crowdsourcing. The study also explores the role of data security, ethical considerations, and the potential for future research in this rapidly evolving field.

• Hochschule: Prifysgol Cymru University of Wales (Innovation & economic research center - University of South Wales)
• Note: 1,3
• Autor: Michael Gebert (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2014
• Seiten: 501
• Katalognummer: V294685
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656930204
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656930211
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: crowdsourcing, future of work, crowdinnovation, innovation, crowdfunding, crowd, crowdinvesting, risk, disruption