La gestión de la innovación abierta en las pymeretos, tendencias y oportunidades para competir en el mercado

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the influence of open innovation practices in the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Increasingly, SMEs have a more relevant role in the economy. Not surprisingly, both academics and policymakers are devoting time and resources to their study, promoting them as key drivers for economic growth and the consolidation of local and regional economies (Ayandibu & Houghton 2017; Zafar & Mustafa 2017; Ormazabal et al. 2018; Yun et al. 2019; Yun & Liu, 2019). This thesis contributes to this stream of the literature with new evidence by means of three independent, yet interconnected studies. In a globalised and dynamic world, SMEs strive to survive. They do not only have to compete for a market share with large corporations, but also have to ensure they generate revenues, being financially sustainable (Oke et al., 2007; Bayarçelik et al., 2014). To achive this goal, innovation becomes a must-do strategy. The marketplace is characterized by an offer that is larger than the demand, where the consumer has the final say. Within this context, companies need to focus all their efforts very well and anticipate to customer’s needs, offering products and/or services that meet their expectations. Although investments in R&D are typically linked to substantial economic efforts (Battaglia et al. 2018; Booltink y SakaHelmhout 2018; Colclough et al., 2019), in recent years, the paradigm of open innovation has appeared as an alternative and a more attractive solution. Open innovation combines the internal knowledge of a company with ideas and opportunities from the outside. The introduction of open innovation practices in a company requires changes in the business model, ensuring a proper alignment at the strategic, operational and organizational levels. Likewise, an active network with other agents of the ecosystem (e.g., other companies, suppliers, research institution, universities, public adminsitration) are necessary in order to exchange information, so that the final result is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Although the literature on open innovation is extensive, its specific application in SMEs is limited. In fact, most of the principles of open innovation have been studied in large corporations. SMEs have a more flexible structure and their decision-making processes are shorter (Lee et al., 2010), henceforth, it should be easier for them to adapt and incorporate new practices. Research in this direction is still scarce with existing studies providing inconclusive results (Hossain and Anees-ur-Rehman, 2016; Wikhamn et al., 2016). Accordingly, new studies are necessary to shed new light on how this type of businesses are adopting the principles of open innovation, the benefits it brings to the firms, the impact in their performance and the challenges ahead. This dissertation addresses the above issues by means of three independent that are highly related but delve into this topic from different perspectives. The first study (article 1) scrutinizes the existing literature on open innovation in SMEs, offering a complete and updated picture of the main contributions of the academic world on this subject. The second study (article 2) builds upon the first article, and investigates how the business model is modified as a result of the introduction of open innovation practices in the company as well as the impact on the performance. A multiple case study is conducted to answer these questions. Finally, the third study (article 3), complements the previous by adopting a causal complexity approach. Specifically, this article examines the combined effect of open innovation practices, the own characteristics of the company and its innovation strategy. The ultimate goal is to unveil the underlying patterns that SMEs can follow to remain competitive in the marketplace. The thesis ends with the discussion of the main conclusions and implications, which are expected to help SMEs to make better strategic decisions that minimize their potential risks and maximize the use of their resources. Indications for future research avenues are outlined at the end of this dissertation