Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation

Abstract

Search for external knowledge is vital for firms innovative activities. To understand search, we propose two knowledge search dimensions: search space (local or distant) and search heuristics (experiential or cognitive). Combining these two dimensions, we distinguish four search paths - situated paths, analogical paths, sophisticated paths, and scientific paths - which respond to recent calls to move beyond "where to search" and to investigate the connection with "how to search." Also, we highlight how the mechanisms of problem framing and boundary spanning operate within each search path to identify solutions to technology problems. We report on a study of 18 open innovation projects that used an innovation intermediary, and outline the characteristics of each search path. Exploration of these search paths enriches previous studies of search in open innovation by providing a comprehensive, but structured, framework that explains search, its underlying mechanisms, and potential outcomes. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p>Funding Agencies|ESADE Business School; NineSigma; Handelsbankens Research Foundations; Riksbankens Jubileumsfond</p

The open innovation research landscape: established perspectives and emerging themes across different levels of analysis

“…Additional research topics emerging at the intra-organisational level of analysis include applications of OI at the functional (Bogers and Lhuillery 2011) and the project level (Salge et al 2013;Du, Leten, and Vanhaverbeke 2014;Lopez-Vega, Tell, and Vanhaverbeke 2016). At the traditional firm-level unit of analysis, a number of studies shed some light on how organisational design, practices, and processes can facilitate interaction with and integration of external sources of innovation (Foss and Foss 2005;Chiaroni, Chiesa, and Frattini 2011;Foss, Laursen, and Pedersen 2011;Robertson, Casali, and Jacobson 2012;Foss, Lyngsie, and Zahra 2013).…”

Governance Considerations for Seeker–Solver Relationships: A Knowledge‐Based Perspective in Crowdsourcing for Innovation Contests

“…licensing and co-development) (Katzy et al, 2013;Lopez-Vega, Tell and Vanhaverbeke, 2016). InnoCentive), NineSigma allows seekers and solvers to engage in a working relationship (e.g.…”

“…The Search space of the problem is a binary variable, measured by comparing the industry to which the seeker belongs and the technical areas of the challenge (Afuah and Tucci, 2012;Lopez-Vega, Tell and Vanhaverbeke, 2016). If the knowledge related to the technical area of the problem does not overlap the knowledge possessed by the seeker, then Search space assumes the value 1 and 0 otherwise.…”

Embracing Open Innovation to Acquire External Ideas and Technologies and to Transfer Internal Ideas and Technologies Outside

“…Whether firms should search locally or distantly, on one hand, and experientially or cognitively, on the other, is a key issue in understanding questions such as where and how to search (Lopez-Vega et al, 2016). Firms bring in innovations from outside through crowdsourcing (Poetz and Schreier, 2012), co-creation (Prahalad and Ramaswamy, 2004), and technology transfer (Lichtenthaler and Lichtenthaler, 2010).…”