Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 242-255 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2017 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
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Keywords
- Absorptive capacity
- Multiple case study
- Open innovation
- R&D intensity
- Supplier innovation
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Can supplier innovations substitute for internal R&D? A multiple case study from an absorptive capacity perspective. / Pihlajamaa, Matti (Corresponding Author); Kaipia, Riikka; Säilä, Julius; Tanskanen, Kari.
In: Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, Vol. 23, No. 4, 01.10.2017, p. 242-255.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Can supplier innovations substitute for internal R&D? A multiple case study from an absorptive capacity perspective
AU - Pihlajamaa, Matti
AU - Kaipia, Riikka
AU - Säilä, Julius
AU - Tanskanen, Kari
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - 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 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 suggest that the innovation process requires significant collaboration and the buying company's supplier management capabilities may improve the success of inbound open innovation projects of this type.
AB - 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 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 suggest that the innovation process requires significant collaboration and the buying company's supplier management capabilities may improve the success of inbound open innovation projects of this type.
KW - Absorptive capacity
KW - Multiple case study
KW - Open innovation
KW - R&D intensity
KW - Supplier innovation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028343036&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pursup.2017.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.pursup.2017.08.002
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 242
EP - 255
JO - Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management
JF - Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management
SN - 1478-4092
IS - 4
ER -