Sammendrag
research (Chesbrough 2002; van de Vrande et al. 2009). It showed to be a
fruitful strategy to employ in highly dynamic and changing environment
(Chesbrough 2003a, b). Since its emergence, evidence to support open innovation
model was taken mainly from the so-called ‘high technology’ industries,
such as computers, information technology, and pharmaceuticals. However,
more resent work Chesbrough and Growther (2006) confirmed the relevance of
this approach in more mature industries. However, little is known so far under
which conditions open innovation serves as appropriate strategy in such mature
industries. This paper investigates innovation process in maritime industry,
which is characterised by long-term trust-based relationships between involved
partners, and substantial financial investment. Using example from a shipping
company in Norway we show how the innovative action of the firm may depend
on the combined influence of entrepreneurial orientation (Lumpkin and Dess
1996; Rauch et al. 2009) within the firm and cooperative links towards
knowledge providers. We investigate innovation process that led to construction
of a ship that was specifically designed to operate under the harsh Arctic conditions.
Findings indicate that open innovation approach is particularly suitable
for innovation process in mature industries when product requirements are
dictated by extra demanding conditions. We contribute to the domain of open
innovation by specifying that firm entrepreneurial orientation, collaborative
links with customer and partner are particularly suitable when the level of
uncertainty is high.
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