Can supplier innovations substitute for internal R&D? A multiple case study from an absorptive capacity perspective
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2017

Prior literature suggests that significant internal R&D resources are needed to leverage suppliers for innovation and that external knowledge sources can be used to complement the internal knowledge base. Based on the analysis of four inbound open innovation projects at Fortum, a multinational energy utility company, we argue that companies with low R&D intensity may adopt an alternative approach which aims at substituting – not merely complementing – internal R&D with external innovations. We adopt the absorptive capacity perspective while investigating the cases and focus on four distinct sub-capabilities: acquisition, assimilation, transformation, and exploitation. We find that the substitution approach consists of short-term research on new technological areas in order to gain the ability to identify and evaluate alternative technologies, as well as joint business models and operations based on complementary capabilities between the parties. The cases also reveal that the innovation process requires significant collaboration and the buying company’s supplier management capabilities improve the success of inbound open innovation projects of this type.

Open innovation

Absorptive capacity

Case study

Supplier innovation

Författare

Riikka Kaipia

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation

Matti Pihlajamaa

Kari Tanskanen

Julius Säilä

Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management

1478-4092 (ISSN)

Vol. 23 4 242-255

Ämneskategorier

Annan teknik

DOI

10.1016/j.pursup.2017.08.002

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2018-06-12