Understanding and Adapting to Crowd Behavior: A Study of Wireless Networks and Entrepreneurial Crowdfunding

Abstract

The advances of the future will demand scholars have a systemic vision to solve problems. Integration across disciplines is needed to study, explain, inquire and discover beyond the traditional borders of academic areas. In this research,we consider the effects of crowd behavior in wireless networks and funding. First,we seek to demonstrate how to improve the allocation of wireless network resources based on the use of aggregate data from crowds’ mobile phones and dynamically improve the wireless network around them. The data is used to develop an optimization allowing a more efficient management of the network. Second,using tool sets from engineering and entrepreneurship,we study the interaction of herding and speed to goal towards success on the crowdfunding environment using the liability of newness as a theoretical lens. Finally, we advance entrepreneurial crowdfunding literature through developing a new framework to understand the different paths to success. One of the challenges of deploying dense networks is unpredicted human mobility behavior. Today, the static allocation of carriers results in a suboptimal use of spectrum resources. In this essay, we introduce the concept of Dynamic Carrier Allocation as the ability of dynamically move carriers from one cell to another based on the demand. Simulation results demonstrate on average 25% higher efficiency when compared with the previous static allocation schemes. Crowdfunding has become a popular substitute for traditional sources of funding for new ventures. While some research has been done to explain the reasons an entrepreneur is successful in this environment, the understanding of the interaction between the early and late stages of the campaign still cloudy. In this essay, we use the liability of newness theory and over 2,400 crowdfunding projects to discuss the connection between the timing of the herding effect and the speed in which the campaign is funded. We also look how the size of the goal moderates this effect. Then, we propose a taxonomy for the different paths towards crowdfunding success. The conceptual and empirical findings of this work extend our understanding of entrepreneurial legitimacy and the roles played by early stage funding strategies in overcoming internal and external liabilities of newness.