Journal of Small Business Management · 2012 · 786 citations · 93 references
ManagementInnovation ManagementTechnology ManagementCompetitive AdvantageInnovationInnovation StrategyInnovation AdoptionInnovation ProcessesOpen InnovationOrganizational InnovationTechnological InnovationTechnology ScoutingInbound Open InnovationIncremental Innovation ManagementInnovation Performance MetricsOpen Innovation AdoptionOpen Innovation ProcessesOutbound Open InnovationRadical Innovation Management
Open innovation has been shown to improve innovation outcomes in large firms, but its effects on small and medium‑sized enterprises remain underexplored. This study examines how four inbound open innovation activities affect the innovation performance of high‑tech SMEs. The analysis uses data from 252 high‑tech SMEs to assess these relationships. Results indicate that technology sourcing boosts radical innovation, while technology scouting enhances incremental innovation, underscoring distinct activity‑outcome linkages.
Prior studies suggest that open innovation activities positively influence innovation outcomes in large firms. However, few studies have investigated the implications of small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) adoption of open innovation. We address this research gap by investigating the effects of four inbound open innovation activities on innovation performance of SMEs. In doing so, we draw on data from 252 high-tech SMEs. Our results reveal that different open innovation activities are beneficial for different innovation outcomes. For instance, technology sourcing is linked to radical innovation performance, whereas technology scouting is linked to incremental innovation performance. These findings hold several important theoretical and practical implications.
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