scholarly journals Service design for innovation in small and medium businesses

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Joaquin Carvalho Proenca
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Direct Methods ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Front End ◽  
Services Innovation ◽  
Medium Businesses ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Innovation Processes

An innovation program designed and implemented with two Peruvian small, medium business in health and hotel industries focused on value creation goal while developing products and services innovation. For insights, ideas generation, solutions validation and prototyping proposals at the front-end open innovation strategy were used both indirect and direct methods; trends research, customer journey mapping, ethnography, interaction with users with depth interviews and dynamic group sessions. The research sought both to test the program and deploy the methods developed in business to advance capabilities for knowledge management and iterative processes. As a result small and medium businesses can develop Services Design according to their human and financial limitations using processes based on four axes; scanning the environment immersion learning, gamification, Lean and Design Thinking. The research concluded there are alternative paths that take into account and involve greater collaboration of users that businesses can explore and exploit. Innovation processes do not have to be long, uncertain or expensive for small and medium businesses.

Agile Innovation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Lichtenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Front End ◽  
Innovation Processes ◽  
Lean Startup

In light of digital transformation and a stronger application of artificial intelligence, many firms try to increase the agility of their innovation processes. In this regard, they particularly rely on design thinking or on the lean startup approach to reduce some of the deficits of established innovation processes, such as the stage-gate model. This conceptual article shows that merely focusing on design thinking and lean startup in isolation will not enable companies to fully leverage the benefits of agile innovation. Because of the complementarity of design thinking and lean startup, executives should simultaneously pursue these approaches in order to achieve results that are more than the sum of isolated design thinking or isolated lean startup initiatives. This complementarity derives from the specific benefits of design thinking in the front end of the innovation process combined with the particular benefits of lean startup in the back end.

scholarly journals How family firms execute open innovation strategies: the Loccioni case

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1459-1485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Casprini ◽  
Alfredo De Massis ◽  
Alberto Di Minin ◽  
Federico Frattini ◽  
Andrea Piccaluga
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Family Firm ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Strategies ◽  
Innovation Processes

Purpose This paper aims to shed light on how family firms execute open innovation strategies by managing internal and external knowledge flows. Design/methodology/approach First, through a comprehensive literature review, the paper identifies the barriers to the acquisition and transfer of knowledge in open innovation processes. Second, it presents and discusses the results of an exploratory case study on Loccioni, an Italian family firm providing high-tech measurement solutions, highlighting how this family firm managed to overcome the barriers in executing an open innovation strategy. Findings The case study shows that Loccioni faced specific challenges in acquiring and transferring knowledge in its open innovation processes and developed two idiosyncratic capabilities – labelled imprinting and fraternization – that helped the firm overcome the barriers to knowledge acquisition and transfer. The analysis shows that these two capabilities are enabled by the distinctive goals and social capital characterizing family firms. Originality/value The paper creates a link between open innovation and family business research with an empirically grounded model illustrating how the idiosyncratic capabilities of a family firm help overcome the critical barriers to the acquisition and transfer of knowledge in executing an open innovation strategy.

The effect of cybercrime on open innovation policies in technology firms

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1301-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ratten
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Firms ◽  
Technology Innovations ◽  
Strategic Direction ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Technology Scouting

Purpose Open innovation is important for technology firms as they can use freely available resources to source creative and innovative ideas. Despite the usefulness of open innovation for technological advancements, few studies have focused on the role of cybercrime in affecting an organizations strategic direction. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of open innovation on cybercrime in technology firms. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted on technology firms to understand the role of open innovation in terms of technology scouting, horizontal collaboration and vertical collaboration on cybercrime activity. Findings The study found that there is a dilemma most technology firm’s face in having an open innovation strategy and how to manage cybercrime. This means that a coopetition strategy is utilized that helps to not only balance the need to have open innovation but also protect intellectual property. Research limitations/implications The study has implications for emerging technology innovations that not only need to have cyber security but also harness the use of Big Data. Practical implications Managers of technology firms need to encourage open innovation as a strategy but manage the cybercrime that comes from sharing too much information in an online context. Originality/value This paper is one of the first to link open innovation strategy to cybercrime activity in technology firms. Thus, it contributes to the literature on open innovation and cyber theft and security.

Industrial Informatics and the Ecology of Innovation

2010 ◽  
pp. 20-29
Author(s):  
Per Levén
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Innovation Systems ◽  
Activity Systems ◽  
Early Experiences ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Innovation Processes

The chapter provides an integrated view of value creation in the development of new products and services related to ICT. The authors argue that innovation ecologies are key aspects for enhanced innovation processes. Building on early experiences from a project focused on the innovation ecologies of its wide range of R&D projects the authors ask how such a focus can help organizations utilize important resources in an open innovation system and guide universities – as driving engines in R&D activity systems – to become key players in open innovation systems and simultaneusly radically improve milieus for research and education. Exploring the outcome from the project and how customers are integrated into value creation processes during the course of design and use, we argue that innovation systems management and customer integration are important assets not only to increased efficiency and quality, but also for enhanced innovation. The authors coin the term ‘ecology of innovation’ to sum up the potentials related to innovation and value creation.

Digitalization-Based Innovation — A Case Study Framework

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICO APOSTOLOV ◽  
NUNZIA COCO
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
North East ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Innovation Processes

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been leading innovation processes, where the upsurge of digital technology has overpowering implications on competitive positioning, firm’s value chains and overall business model. Value creation facilitated by emerging digital technologies alters costs, as well as process performance. Due to field research and in-depth interviews with owners and managers of SMEs in North-East Italy area, we combine and analyze evidence of the contingent challenges companies face while trying to redesign their business model. Our results point out that being able to accumulate and put into action external ideas can be vital in supplementing internal knowledge base and therefore crucial in escaping technological lock-ins; thus, imposing efforts toward digital transformation offers favorable outcoes.

Managing skills for open innovation: the case of biotechnology

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1336-1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Lavrynenko ◽  
Natalia Shmatko ◽  
Dirk Meissner
Keyword(s):  
Job Search ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hr Management ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Practice Implementation ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Innovation Processes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the composition of skillsets in biotechnology from the perspective of employers and its relation to open innovation processes in the sector. It provides conclusions for HR management practice.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on job advertisements content analysis and in-depth interviews with chiefs of research and development companies. It uses biotechnology as an example of industry where open innovation practice implementation is expanding. The authors have used data from American, British and Russian job search engines.FindingsIt is demonstrated that skills composition required in biotechnology does not vary significantly among selected countries as the market becomes increasingly globalized in terms of not only technology used but also personnel hired. Companies stress more on hard and digital skills, while soft skills appear to be a “must have without saying,” The mismatch between skills presented in the advertisements and articulated in the interviews has been found as employers tend to demonstrate innovation friendly company culture for possible applicants.Originality/valueThe present paper enriches literature on employee skills for open innovation. It gives comprehensive lists of biotech skills in-demand divided into hard, digital and soft categories and interprets them within the context of employee cognition and behavior. The new insight into employee skills articulated by the companies as a strong element of organizational culture is presented.

scholarly journals Trouble in Paradise? Barriers to Open Innovation in Regional Clusters in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marita McPhillips
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Innovation Intermediaries ◽  
Nation Wide Survey ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Innovation Processes

The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the barriers faced by clusters as open innovation intermediaries. Literature review and an empirical study were performed, involving a nation-wide survey, case studies, and in-depth interviews with cluster actors involved in open innovation activities. This article conceptually links open innovation and clusters in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, empirically identifies barriers hindering open innovation in clusters, and indicates factors that might affect the open innovation processes in networked ecosystems. The findings confirm that the perception of barriers hindering open innovation in clusters differs between clusters already implementing open innovation and those which are still not active in this area. The findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the potential roles of clusters as open innovation intermediaries in the context of transitioning economies. With clusters playing a role in open innovation intermediary, public support at cluster level could increase openness to cooperation not only for member companies, but all participants in the regional innovation ecosystem.

scholarly journals Value Creation in Innovations Crowdsourcing. Example of Creative Agencies

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrius Agafonovas ◽  
Raimonda Alonderienė
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Extended Analysis ◽  
Motivational Model ◽  
Successful Business ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Potential Customers

Innovations are crucial for most of the companies to survive. However, the concept of innovation has become broader, including new forms of open innovation, such as crowdsourcing. The aim of this paper is to define the business model of a crowdsourcing-driven organization to create value. Empirical research consists of case studies on current crowdsourcing platforms, focus groups with potential crowd members and in-depth interviews with potential customers of creative agencies. Best practices were combined with solutions for closing the most significant gaps in order to create a successful business model. The developed model suggests separating the crowd into free users and an empowered core team and enabling collaboration. Moreover, an innovative motivational model is introduced. Due to a three-step sequence of solution/idea generation, superior value is proposed to the customer. Another competitive advantage should be flexibility and adaptability to the customer’s needs. The paper is original since extended analysis of all crowdsourcing stakeholders is delivered. It also has practical value proposing a business model for creative agencies.

scholarly journals COORDINATION MECHANISMS OF COLLABORATIVE R&D PROJECTS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Baggio ◽  
Douglas Wegner ◽  
Gustavo Dalmarco
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Coordination Mechanisms ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Inside Out ◽  
Innovation Processes

ABSTRACT Purpose: To analyze how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) coordinate collaborative research and development (R&D) projects through an open innovation strategy. Originality/value: This research was motivated by a theoretical gap in the management of collaborative R&D projects in open innovation strategies. The originality of the paper is to advance the understanding of coordination mechanisms that SMEs can use to manage open innovation and obtain more effective results. Design/methodology/approach: The research followed a qualitative approach, through three case studies of collaborative projects. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with eleven managers directly involved in collaborative R&D projects. Findings: Results demonstrate that the use of coordination mechanisms depends on the applicability of each project’s results, i.e., the higher the chances of a certain R&D project becoming a real product, the higher the importance given to the coordination mechanisms. On the cases observed, the coordination mechanisms were defined by the enterprise, not by external partners. In addition, it was observed that open innovation projects that the enterprise seeks for external knowledge to complement internal resources (outside-in) were considered more important than transferring internal knowledge to external partners (inside-out). The paper contributes to organizational theory by highlighting the relation between the characteristics of collaborative R&D projects and the coordination mechanisms used. Regarding the managerial contribution, results serve as a guide for entrepreneurs and managers of SMEs interested in coordinating collaborative projects based on open innovation processes.

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