Title: Crowdsourcing and small business challenges: how to leverage crowdsourcing benefits in the information and communications technology industry

Authors: Angelo Dossou-Yovo; Joyline Makani; Michelle McPherson

Addresses: Department of International Studies, York University, Glendon Campus 2275 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M6, Canada ' Killam Library, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada ' Killam Library, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, 6299 South St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada

Abstract: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make significant contributions to economic growth; however, they face multiple challenges that inhibit their success. It is argued in this paper that crowdsourcing could be leveraged to alleviate many of their challenges particularly in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Our findings show that Canadian SMEs are using crowdsourcing less than their American counterparts. However, Canadian SMEs have a more optimistic outlook towards crowdsourcing impacts. Additionally, ten categories of Canadian SME challenges were identified through a review of literature. Finally, a compelling argument for leveraging crowdsourcing to address eight of these challenge categories is made, relying on existing literature and case studies of SME's utilisation of crowdsourcing. SME owners could leverage the findings from this paper to improve their chance of survival. Policy makers could also see benefits in guiding the design of new policies aimed at supporting small businesses.

Keywords: crowdsourcing; small and medium-sized enterprise; SME; survival; innovation; product development; ideation; technology; crowd; online platform.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRIC.2024.140356

International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, 2024 Vol.5 No.2, pp.127 - 149

Received: 20 Nov 2023
Accepted: 06 Jan 2024
Published online: 05 Aug 2024 *

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