THE EFFECT OF INBOUND OPEN INNOVATION ON FIRM PERFORMANCE IN JAPANESE MANUFACTURING FIRMS: COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN RESEARCH CENTRE AND BUSINESS UNIT

摘要

This study aims to investigate the inbound open innovation and firm performance in different time periods across different organisations. Specifically, a conceptual model at firm level analysis was proposed based on literature review. The model was tested with structural equation modeling, using the empirical data which were collected from 60 research centre projects and 62 business unit projects in 2008. Results reveal the causal relationship between the implementation of inbound open innovation and the firm performance in both research centre and business unit. Comparative results showed that regarding research centre, increasing the frequency of inbound open innovation, efficient interal R&D activities and the higher degree of product newness make projects stable and efficient; consequently, the success of firm performance is achieved. As for the business unit, the frequently inbound open innovation practices are necessary for terms of generating efficiency and outcomes, and efficient inter R&D stargeties are significant conditioned by the degree of product newness, contributing to the firm performance as well.