The Differential Innovativeness Outcomes of User and Employee Participation in an Online User Innovation Community

Yan, K. Leidner, D. & Benbya, H. 2018. “Differential Innovativeness Outcomes of User and Employee Participation in an Online User Innovation Community”, Journal of Management Information Systems, 35(03), pp.1–34.

44 Pages Posted: 16 Aug 2018 Last revised: 9 Nov 2018

See all articles by Jie (Kevin) Yan

Jie (Kevin) Yan

Dalton State College; Dalton State College

Dorothy Leidner

Baylor University; Lund University

Hind Benbya

Deakin University

Date Written: July 18, 2018

Abstract

Firm-hosted online user innovation communities (OUICs) have emerged as a vital source of knowledge and expertise for innovation and new product development. Prior research on OUICs has primarily focused on participation of external product users and benefits obtained from their contributions. However, the role of internal employees of the host firm, albeit essential for the community’s long-term success, has not yet received much attention. This study attempts to bridge this gap by investigating the innovation outcomes of employees participating in OUICs. By analyzing a longitudinal data set collected from Salesforce.com’s IdeaExchange community, we find that accessing product user ideas with diverse and well-codified content drives idea promotion and generation of participating employees. Moreover, ideas contributed and promoted by employees are more likely to be implemented than those contributed and only promoted by product users. We discuss important implications of our study for the online innovation community literature and for the development of overall employee engagement in OUICs.

Keywords: Online User Innovation Communities, Employee Innovativeness, Crowdsourcing, Co-Creation, Online Communities, Online Ideation

Suggested Citation

Yan, Jie and Yan, Jie and Leidner, Dorothy and Benbya, Hind, The Differential Innovativeness Outcomes of User and Employee Participation in an Online User Innovation Community (July 18, 2018). Yan, K. Leidner, D. & Benbya, H. 2018. “Differential Innovativeness Outcomes of User and Employee Participation in an Online User Innovation Community”, Journal of Management Information Systems, 35(03), pp.1–34., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3216000

Jie Yan

Dalton State College ( email )

Dalton, GA 30720
United States

Dalton State College ( email )

Dalton, GA 30720
United States

Dorothy Leidner

Baylor University ( email )

School of Engineering & Computer Science
Waco, TX 76798
United States

Lund University ( email )

Box 117
Lund, SC Skane S221 00
Sweden

Hind Benbya (Contact Author)

Deakin University ( email )

221, Burwood Highway
Melbourne, VIC 3125
Australia

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