“Not all smart people work for you,” begins Henry Chesbrough’s classic 2003 HBR article on the merits of open innovation. Firms must find a way to tap into external knowledge and ideas to innovate. Today, this premise is the basis for crowdsourcing, crowdfunding, open source development, and more. In each case, firms face a challenge: how to attract and motivate the best external contributors.
Attracting Top Contributors to an Open Innovation Project
Recognition and autonomy matter, but only so much.
May 12, 2014
New!
HBR Learning
Innovation and Creativity Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation and Creativity. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Unlock your team's curiosity and willingness to take smart risks.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
Innovation and Creativity Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation and Creativity. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Unlock your team's curiosity and willingness to take smart risks.