Open AccessOpen innovation: a new classification and its impact on firm performance in innovative SMEs
Author(s) -
Joon Mo Ahn,
Tim Minshall,
Letizia Mortara
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of innovation management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2183-0606
DOI - 10.24840/2183-0606_003.002_0006
Subject(s) - business , open innovation , intermediary , work (physics) , industrial organization , marketing , knowledge management , survey data collection , computer science , mechanical engineering , statistics , mathematics , engineering
This paper attempts to deepen understanding of the relationship between open innovation (OI) and firm performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on survey data from 306 Korean innovative SMEs, the results of this study show that: (1) broad and intensive engagement in OI and cooperation with external partners are positively associated with firm performance; (2) technology and market-oriented OI modes (Joint R&D, user involvement and open sourcing), involving relatively low level of changes, can positively contribute to performance enhancement; and (3) innovative SMEs benefit from working with non-competing partners, such as customers, consultancy/intermediaries and public research institutes. This work has broadened the evidence available on SMEs’ OI adoption and has proposed a new way to study OI adoption and implementation.