The effect of crowdsourcing on organizational learning: Evidence from local governments

Abstract

Modern local governments must learn in order to deal effectively with the growing pressures of a rapidly changing environment. Crowdsourcing has entered the stage of popularization and wide adoption as a part of local government. Based on organizational learning perspective, this study develops a multi-level model of learning from crowdsourcing and a joint relationship between crowdsourcing and organizational learning in local governments. This paper adopts a multi-method research approach: (1) the model was tested with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using a survey of 205 local governments units in Poland; (2) in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with 18 top managers from 18 local governments units in Poland. The empirical results show that: (1) crowdsourcing has significantly positive affects on individual, group, organizational levels of learning, feed-forward, and feed-back flows; (2) type of crowdsourcing, such wisdom crowd, crowd creation, and crowd voting are linked with organizational learning. Moreover, one type of crowdsourcing, such crowdfunding is not related with organizational learning of local governments. These findings contribute to both academic research and practical implications, advancing our understandings of relationship between crowdsourcing and organizational learning in local governments.