Innovation Experiments: Researching Technical Advance, Knowledge Production and the Design of Supporting Institutions

Forthcoming in Innovation Policy and the Economy, volume 16, edited by Josh Lerner and Scott Stern. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Harvard Business School Strategy Unit Working Paper No. 16-001

Harvard Business School Technology & Operations Mgt. Unit Working Paper No. 16-001

39 Pages Posted: 3 Jul 2015 Last revised: 4 Jul 2015

See all articles by Kevin Boudreau

Kevin Boudreau

Northeastern University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Karim R. Lakhani

Harvard Business School - Technology and Operations Management Group; Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science; Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Date Written: July 1, 2015

Abstract

This paper discusses several challenges in designing field experiments to better understand how organizational and institutional design shapes innovation outcomes and the production of knowledge. We proceed to describe the field experimental research program carried out by our Crowd Innovation Laboratory at Harvard University to clarify how we have attempted to address these research design challenges. This program has simultaneously solved important practical innovation problems for partner organizations, like NASA and Harvard Medical School, while contributing research advances, particularly in relation to innovation contests and tournaments.

Suggested Citation

Boudreau, Kevin and Lakhani, Karim R., Innovation Experiments: Researching Technical Advance, Knowledge Production and the Design of Supporting Institutions (July 1, 2015). Forthcoming in Innovation Policy and the Economy, volume 16, edited by Josh Lerner and Scott Stern. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. , Harvard Business School Strategy Unit Working Paper No. 16-001, Harvard Business School Technology & Operations Mgt. Unit Working Paper No. 16-001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2625593

Kevin Boudreau

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Karim R. Lakhani (Contact Author)

Harvard Business School - Technology and Operations Management Group ( email )

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Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science ( email )

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Harvard University - Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society ( email )

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