Thinking about the seeker: a method for ideas selection in crowdsourcing through clustering

Abstract

This article presents a method for new ideas selection, which uses clustering to filter ideas while considering the seeker’s goals and the learning dynamics. Most of the previous research has considered the idea provider as the main subject of analysis. Instead, we focus on the bounded rationality of the solution seeker. Seekers often estimate that the main cost of an idea challenge comes from the reward itself; yet, making mistakes in the selection process and picking the wrong idea might result in the seeker wasting time and money. The study discussed in the paper is an early-stage application of the design science research (DSR); thus, we argue that the research contribution can be classified as “exaptation”, a known solution to a new problem.