Crowdsourcing: A contemporary form of project management with linkages to open innovation and novel operations

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to link crowdsourcing, operations management (OM) and project management (PM). The study demonstrates how crowdsourcing as an open innovation mechanism is operationalised within a complex PM context. Specifically, the study seeks to understand how crowdsourcing as a novel form of OM improves key outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted exploratory research involving five pure-play crowdsourcing firms based in the USA and Australia. Findings: The findings indicate that the firms practise a form of crowdsourcing that allows flexible, efficient and low risk operations and links to contemporary notions of PM such as projectification and p..