TY - JOUR

T1 - Stakeholder management in SME open innovation

T2 - interdependences and strategic actions

AU - Albats, Ekaterina

AU - Alexander, Allen

AU - Mahdad, Maral

AU - Miller, Kristel

AU - Post, Ger

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - This research explores how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage external stakeholders during open innovation (OI) processes. To date, extensive literature has explored OI within large organisations, however, there is limited understanding of how SMEs can strategically manage stakeholders during different stages of OI projects. Using a multi-grounded theory approach, 11 cases of SME OI projects were analysed across four regions within Europe. The findings reveal a wide range of primary and secondary stakeholders with varying levels of power and dependency were leveraged across the different stages of the OI projects. A model is presented which advances knowledge on how to map, analyse and manage stakeholders strategically in a SME-OI context. Our research helps advance theory on SME-OI stakeholder management processes and reveals appropriate stakeholder management strategies, which will assist SME managers in alleviating the SME-OI paradox.

AB - This research explores how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage external stakeholders during open innovation (OI) processes. To date, extensive literature has explored OI within large organisations, however, there is limited understanding of how SMEs can strategically manage stakeholders during different stages of OI projects. Using a multi-grounded theory approach, 11 cases of SME OI projects were analysed across four regions within Europe. The findings reveal a wide range of primary and secondary stakeholders with varying levels of power and dependency were leveraged across the different stages of the OI projects. A model is presented which advances knowledge on how to map, analyse and manage stakeholders strategically in a SME-OI context. Our research helps advance theory on SME-OI stakeholder management processes and reveals appropriate stakeholder management strategies, which will assist SME managers in alleviating the SME-OI paradox.

KW - Interdependences

KW - Open innovation

KW - SME

KW - Stakeholder management

KW - Stakeholder theory

KW - Strategic actions

U2 - 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.038

DO - 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.038

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85074487496

VL - 119

SP - 291

EP - 301

JO - Journal of Business Research

JF - Journal of Business Research

SN - 0148-2963

ER -