In the late 2000s researchers from all over the world published important research on various aspects of the open innovation concept. However, most of the work was of theoretical nature and the few available empirical papers were based on single-firm case studies. This was the reason why I focused on collecting a large-scale quantitative sample when I started my work with this dissertation in February 2008. During 2008 I began to narrow down my topic, define research questions and methodology. In early 2009 data collection was conducted over a period of around four months. The summer of 2009 was devoted to extensive data analysis and in fall and winter of 2009 the first paper was written. During 2010 another paper was written and submitted to a journal. Most of my working time during that year was devoted to the review process. In 2011 the first two articles were published, and work began on my third article which was finally published in 2012.
Today, over more than four years after I first read Chesbroughs initial book from 2003, and after hundreds of research articles and books I read during my research work, the most important thing I learned is not the pure ‘open innovation’-knowledge from the books. What I really learned over the last years is the way of scientific thinking, especially from an epistemological and methodological point of view. Despite all expert knowledge, what you really need as a scientist is profundity, accuracy and conciseness. In case you want to publish papers, also patience, persistence, and continuity are of essential nature. This is where my dissertation has changed me most in the last four years.
On June 19th, 2012 I held my Defensio Dissertationis - the final presentation of my thesis. I would like to share this presentation with you, as it includes a very good overview on open innovation in general, but also my thesis approach and the method and findings of my research are presented nicely on several slides.
Download of defensio presentation (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Because of current developments we are leaving the firm perspective for this blogpost in order to focus on application of the open innovation paradigm in other areas, like politics. Innovation does not only include product innovation, but also includes service innovation, process innovation and business innovation. Hence, also Government, Non-Government Organizations and Political Parties could successfully apply Open Innovation.
