Title: Cultivating the wisdom of personnel through internal crowdsourcing

Authors: Kaisa Henttonen; Tommi Rissanen; Päivi Eriksson; Jukka Hallikas

Addresses: School of Business and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland; Business School, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland ' Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. 13 Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Business School, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland ' Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. 13 Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: The paper focuses on internal crowdsourcing as a key mechanism through which human resources can be integrated into innovation processes. The theoretical part of the study outlines internal crowdsourcing as a form of co-creation and integrates this with a practice-based view of innovation. In our multiple case study, we examine participatory innovation practice and related activities in three large organisations. We collected data from three different groups of people representing the personnel of these organisations. The analysis was based on qualitative content analysis and comparison of the cases. In our study, we divided the co-creation process into three phases: 1) co-ideation; 2) co-evaluation; 3) co-upgrading/idea redevelopment. The analysis shows that each phase included a number of specific activities necessary to enhance both creativity and efficiency in the process. For innovative companies and their managers, the study offers practical insights into how they can cultivate the wisdom of their personnel.

Keywords: innovation process; innovation management; human resources; internal crowdsourcing; practices; collective intelligence; large organisations; co-creation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITM.2017.083863

International Journal of Information Technology and Management, 2017 Vol.16 No.2, pp.117 - 132

Received: 12 Mar 2016
Accepted: 18 Mar 2016
Published online: 25 Apr 2017 *

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