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Monetary and Social Rewards for Crowdsourcing

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Cappa

    (Department of Business and Management, LUISS Guido Carli University, Viale Pola 12, 00198 Rome, Italy)

  • Federica Rosso

    (Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Darren Hayes

    (Seidenberg School of Computer Science & Information Systems, Pace University, One Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, USA)

Abstract

Crowdsourcing of inventive activities is a particular form of crowdsourcing that helps firms to innovate by involving dispersed individuals to exploit “crowd wisdom”. In this context, the greater the number of contributions, the greater the possibility to gather extremely valuable ideas to produce innovative products and services. While monetary and social rewards can be an effective means to boost contributors’ extrinsic and intrinsic motivations to contribute, a theoretical understanding and empirical evidence of their effects are lacking. This paper focused on the crowdsourcing of inventive activities, initiated by listed companies worldwide, from 2007 to 2014. Our findings shed light on the influence of monetary and social rewards on the number of ideas collected. In particular, we analyzed the impact on the number of contributions brought about by monetary rewards and noted a positive influence related to its presence and also a negative effect related to the amount of the compensation. Moreover, we have demonstrated how the presence of a social cause is beneficial to the number of contributions. Consequently, we contribute to a scholarly understanding of the crowdsourcing phenomenon and we have provided guidance to managers seeking to initiate crowdsourcing campaigns.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Cappa & Federica Rosso & Darren Hayes, 2019. "Monetary and Social Rewards for Crowdsourcing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2834-:d:232275
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    15. Dargahi, Rambod & Namin, Aidin & Ketron, Seth C. & Saint Clair, Julian K., 2021. "Is self-knowledge the ultimate prize? A quantitative analysis of participation choice in online ideation crowdsourcing contests," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
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    17. Ted Y. T. Suen & Simon K. S. Cheung & Fu Lee Wang & John Y. K. Hui, 2022. "Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Factors on Employee Participation in Internal Crowdsourcing Initiatives in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.

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