Proclivity for open innovation: Construct development and empirical validation

摘要

Over the past decade, the concept of open innovation has received substantial attention.rnResearch has ranged from case study representations to large-scale quantitativernstudies using the Community Innovation Survey data or developing novel approachesrnto measuring open innovation. In this study, we conceptualise and validate a firmlevelrnmeasure of proclivity for open innovation, which relates to the firm’s predispositionrnto perform inbound and outbound open innovation activities. To do so, wernfocus on smaller firms, assessing their organisational and behavioural perspectivesrnrelated to open innovation. Building on existing scholarly research and a field study,rnwe begin by conceptualising the theoretical framework of the multidimensional construct.rnWe then develop and validate its measurement scale on two cross-culturalrnsamples. The measure contains the following dimensions: inward IP licensing andrnexternal participation, outsourcing R&D and external networking, customer involvement,rnemployee involvement, venturing, and outward IP licensing. Our resultsrnindicate that the measure has good reliability and validity. Implications for futurernresearch are also discussed.