Open innovation supply chain configuration and performance through a proximity lens
通过长期跟踪一个由制造商、供应商和大学组成的复杂开放式创新供应链，研究了地理、社会、组织和技术邻近性如何影响其配置与集体创新绩效，发现社会和技术邻近性最为关键，个体进出协作的影响显著。
Purpose Responding to calls for more understanding-focused open innovation research using supply chain study objects, this paper aims to deepen understanding of how proximities, knowledge sourcing and collaborative capabilities relate to open innovation supply chain (OISC) configuration and performance. Design/methodology/approach A complex OISC, comprising a manufacturer, suppliers and universities, was studied through longitudinal interactive research. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, participant observations in project and technical meetings and interactive workshops with the OISC actors. Geographical, social, organizational and technological proximity served as a lens for the analysis. Findings For OISC configuration, social and technological proximities, together with the funding agency’s requirements, emerged as the most critical proximities. During design and engineering, the loss of social proximity and the lack of technological and organizational proximity negatively affected the collective OISC innovation performance. Effects of individuals entering or exiting the collaboration were notable. Examining knowledge sourcing and collaborative capabilities provided complementary understanding of OISC. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the supply chain management literature by applying a supply chain perspective to open innovation and distinguishing OISC phases in relation to proximities, knowledge sourcing and collaborative capabilities. Additional contributions include identifying proximities in various types of OISC interfaces, understanding of individuals as bearers of proximity and proposing a way to capture collective OISC performance through delays. The study builds on a technology-intensive OISC involving small firms, which may limit the generalizability of the findings outside this context. Practical implications Actors in OISC are provided with a vocabulary and practical guidance that can be used both reactively—to address an identified lack of proximity—and proactively to improve the likelihood of successful OISC performance. Funding agencies can be alerted to potential risks associated with requiring the inclusion of certain actors in open innovation projects. Originality/value This paper presents rich, longitudinal data representing multiple perspectives in an extended, complex OISC. It offers a way to capture OISC performance that, unlike earlier studies, is collective and proactive, yielding insights rarely documented.