External knowledge search paths in open innovation processes of small and medium enterprises
European Journal of Innovation Management
ISSN: 1460-1060
Article publication date: 25 November 2019
Issue publication date: 15 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to advance knowledge by exploring how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) search for external knowledge in their open innovation processes, and how the search can be advanced.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory research employs a qualitative multiple case study design. A literature review of open innovation in SMEs and external knowledge search is used to build the premises of this study. Semi-structured interviews with eight SMEs are employed to collect subsequent exploratory empirical data.
Findings
This exploratory study revealed that SMEs adopted a combination of cognitive and experiential search heuristics where cognitive search was practiced during the innovation research process when searching for external knowledge, whilst experiential search was practiced during the innovation development process. Concerning the search space, this study found that SMEs mainly explored local knowledge, and occasionally pursued distant knowledge when confronted with complex problems. The reason for the above behavior was explained to be related to the reduction of costs and risks associated with innovation activities.
Originality/value
External knowledge plays a pivotal role in open innovation. Although extant studies have shed some light on how large firms search for external knowledge, however, it is not clear how SMEs search for external knowledge. Moreover, this study focuses on learning about both the search space and the search heuristics at both the research and the development stages of the innovation process.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors would like to thank Dr Sharn Orchard from IKI-SEA, Bangkok University who helped proofread this paper, and Puvvala Sai Kiran from the Victoria University Sydney for his help during the information search phase of this study.
Citation
Chaochotechuang, P., Daneshgar, F. and Mariano, S. (2020), "External knowledge search paths in open innovation processes of small and medium enterprises", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 524-550. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-01-2019-0013
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited