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  • 2020
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

Recognition Incentives for Internal Crowdsourcing: A Field Experiment at NASA

By: Jana Gallus, Olivia S. Jung and Karim R. Lakhani
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:52
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Abstract

What might motivate employees to participate in internal crowdsourcing, a peer-based approach to innovation? Should organizations use incentives that are congruent with their established hierarchical structures, or should they use incentives that are aligned with the aspirational, peer-based approach to innovation? We partnered with NASA for a qualitative study and a field experiment (N=7,455) to understand the effectiveness of different incentives that may motivate its workforce to participate in crowdsourcing. First, we show that concerns about the legitimacy of peer-based innovation disincentivize employees to participate. Second, we find that managerial recognition, the incentive that is congruent with the established hierarchy, significantly increases engagement. It does so by alleviating legitimacy concerns and by offering managerial attention. Peer recognition, which is congruent with the aspirational, peer-based approach to innovation, is not found to have a significant overall effect. However, workers who are otherwise less visible were positively motivated by it. Our research provides guidance for hierarchical organizations that are seeking greater employee engagement in peer-based innovation, and it adds insights on motivational channels to the literature on organizational innovation.

Keywords

Online Platforms; Employee Engagement; Managerial Recognition; Innovation And Management; Employees; Motivation And Incentives

Citation

Gallus, Jana, Olivia S. Jung, and Karim R. Lakhani. "Recognition Incentives for Internal Crowdsourcing: A Field Experiment at NASA." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 20-059, November 2019. (Revised May 2020.)
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About The Author

Karim R. Lakhani

Technology and Operations Management
→More Publications

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More from the Authors
  • Threadless: The Renewal of an Online Community By: Shane Greenstein, Karim Lakhani and Christian Godwin
  • Consuming Contests: Outcome Uncertainty and Spectator Demand for Contest-based Entertainment By: Patrick J. Ferguson and Karim R. Lakhani
  • Resilience vs. Vulnerability: Psychological Safety and Reporting of Near Misses with Varying Proximity to Harm in Radiation Oncology By: Olivia Jung, Palak Kundu, Amy C. Edmondson, John Hegde, Nzhde Agazaryan, Michael Steinberg and Ann Raldow
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