Learning to Be Creative: A Mutually Exciting Spatiotemporal Point Process Model for Idea Generation in Open Innovation

2021 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 5

Authors: Aggarwal, Vipul; Hwang, Elina H.; Tan, Yong

Abstract: This study investigates the creative idea generation process in an open innovati ... Expand

Abstract: This study investigates the creative idea generation process in an open innovation platform. The idea generation process is simultaneously influenced by multiple activities: knowledge acquisition from participants’ interactions with each other’s ideas, deliberate practice through persistent participation, and learning through failures. Due to the dynamic interplay across these activities, it is challenging to identify each activity’s influence on creative ideation outcomes using reduced-form regression analysis. To overcome these challenges, we employ a comprehensive empirical framework, the mutually exciting spatiotemporal point process model with unobserved heterogeneity, which endogenizes the occurrences of these activities in continuous time and allows for user-dependent effects. By utilizing the activity stream data of 13,028 participants from 2010 to 2016 in an open innovation platform, we uncovered synergistic effects of these activities on creative outcomes. We find that knowledge acquired through interaction with others (i.e., stimulus ideas) plays a vital role in the creative ideation process, but their effect is more nuanced than what we have known so far. In contrast to the prior belief that distant analogies, stimulus ideas outside of a problem domain, spur creativity, we find that distant analogies lead to failures. Yet, we further find that such failures are indispensable to the creative ideation process because failures motivate idea generators (1) to acquire more knowledge by increasing their future interactions with other participants’ ideas (learning from others), and (2) to persist in generating ideas that lead to improvements in their ability to apply the acquired knowledge and to identify innovation tasks that are relevant to their stock of acquired knowledge (learning by doing). Our results indicate that failures are a stronger driver of the learning activities than successes. Based on our findings, we offer insights on how to cultivate creativity in an open innovation setting. Collapse

Topics: knowledge acquisition idea generation open innovation innovation management logistics management

Methods: business process modeling data transformation computational algorithm stochastic model regression analysis method

Theories: creativity theory

Engaging Voluntary Contributions in Online Communities: A Hidden Markov Model

2018 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 74

Authors: Chen, Wei; Wei, Xiahua; Xiaoguo Zhu, Kevin

Abstract: User contribution is critical to online communities but also difficult to sustai ... Expand

Abstract: User contribution is critical to online communities but also difficult to sustain given its public goods nature. This paper studies the design of IT artifacts to motivate voluntary contributions in online communities. We propose a dynamic approach, which allows the effect of motivating mechanisms to change across users over time. We characterize the dynamics of user contributions using a hidden Markov model (HMM) with latent motivation states under the public goods framework. We focus on three motivating mechanisms on transitioning users between the latent states: reciprocity, peer recognition, and self-image. Based on Bayesian estimation of the model with user-level panel data, we identify three motivation states (low, medium, and high),and show that the motivating mechanisms, implemented through various IT artifacts, could work differently across states. Specifically, reciprocity is only effective to transition users from low to medium motivation state,whereas peer recognition can boost all users to higher states. And self-image shows no effect when a user is already in high motivation state, although it helps users in low and medium states move to the high state. Design simulations on our structural model provide additional insights into the consequences of changing specific IT artifacts. These findings offer implications for platform designers on how to motivate user contributions and build sustainable online communities. Collapse

Topics: online community public good individual characteristic knowledge sharing crowdsourcing

Methods: design artifact simulation computational algorithm hidden Markov model robustness check

Knowledge Contribution in Online Network of Practice: The Role of IT Infrastructure, Foreign Direct Investment and Immigration

2012 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 1

Authors: Huang, Peng; Tafti, Ali; Mithas, Sunil

Abstract: We use fine-grained longitudinal data of user activities in a leading enterprise ... Expand

Abstract: We use fine-grained longitudinal data of user activities in a leading enterprise software vendor’s Internet-enabled community network to explore knowledge contribution and exchange patterns among countries. We measure knowledge contribution using data on 1.8 million forum discussion threads involving more than 276,000 active users from 224 countries over the period of 2004 - 2010. We find that a country's IT infrastructure and knowledge spillovers from international exchange in the forms of foreign direct investment and immigration are positively associated with knowledge contribution. Interestingly, we also find evidence that the marginal effects of economic (FDI) and human capital (immigration) spillovers on knowledge production is weaker with higher levels of information technology. We discuss implications for research and practice. Collapse

Topics: information technology infrastructure knowledge creation internet technology research and development innovation management

Methods: longitudinal research descriptive statistic data modeling statistical hypothesis test regression analysis method

Theories: theory of economic development