Framing of Seeker-Generated Information and New Solver Participation in Open Innovation Contests: An Empirical Analysis of the Temporal Effects

In today’s highly competitive global market, firms recognize innovation as a key driver of success. To foster innovation, firms (or seekers) increasingly leverage open innovation contests to engage external solvers in addressing challenges. These contests are dynamic, allowing new solvers to enter at any point before the deadline, with their participation influenced by seeker-generated information (SGI), including contest descriptions, clarifications to solvers’ questions, and solution reviews. When communicating requirements, firms can frame SGI by specifying the extent of preference disclosure and defining boundaries for unacceptable design elements. This study examines how SGI framing impacts new solver entry and how its effects evolve as the contest progresses. Using a comprehensive data set from an open innovation contest platform, we find that extensive preference disclosure attracts more new solvers daily, with its effect intensifying as the deadline approaches. Additionally, clear and precise rejection criteria initially deter but later encourage solver participation as the deadline nears. When the deadline is distant, overly restrictive requirements can overshadow other important factors, such as solvers’ need for exploration, and deter participation. These findings provide actionable insights for firms on how to strategically frame SGI at different contest stages to optimize solver participation in open innovation contests.