Determinants and archetype users of open innovation
Journal
R & D Management
ISSN
0033-6807
ISSN-Digital
1467-9310
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2009-09-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Extant research on open innovation (OI) offers no systematic insight of how and why firms differ regarding the extent to which they conduct OI activities. Whereas past theoretical contributions have focused on explaining the externalisation of R&D activities as a result of firm-external factors, we focus on explaining this externalisation as a result of firm-internal weaknesses, specifically, impediments to innovation. Using the exploration-exploitation dichotomy as our theoretical framework, we develop hypotheses on how impediments to innovation influence the breadth and depth of OI. We then test these hypotheses by using an exceptionally large and detailed data set to estimate population-averaged panel models. Our results provide support for most of the hypothesised relationships. Further, they allow to identify four ‘archetypes' of firms that differ significantly regarding the breadth and depth of OI and the importance of impediments. Finally, we discuss the significance of these findings for both academics and managers.
Language
English
Keywords
R&D
innovation
impediment
open innovation
panel data analysis
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher place
Oxford
Volume
39
Number
4
Start page
331
End page
341
Pages
11
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
49199