open access publication

Article, 2023

Diving into the uncertainties of open innovation: A systematic review of risks to uncover pertinent typologies and unexplored horizons

In: Technovation, ISSN 0166-4972, 1879-2383, Volume 119, Page 102582, 10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102582

Contributors (6)

Madanaguli, Arun Thirumalesh (0000-0001-9434-5429) [1] Dhir, Amandeep (0000-0002-6006-6058) (Corresponding author) [2] [3] [4] Talwar, Shalini (0000-0002-2819-5685) [5] Clauss, Thomas (0000-0001-7799-6369) [6] [7] Kraus, Shascha (0000-0003-4886-7482) [8] [9] Kaur, Puneet (0000-0002-8309-8888) [4]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Luleå University of Technology
  2. [NORA names: Sweden; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]
  3. [2] The Norwegian School of Hotel Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, Stavanger, Norway
  4. [3] University of Agder
  5. [NORA names: Norway; Europe, Non-EU; Nordic; OECD]
  6. [4] North-West University
  7. [NORA names: South Africa; Africa]
  8. [5] Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
  9. [NORA names: India; Asia, South]

Abstract

The open innovation paradigm has created substantial new opportunities for firms in various sectors. However, scholars have long expressed concern that open innovation also entails a dark side, which can result in value co-destruction. This concern highlights the importance of devoting attention to the perils of pursuing open innovation. Existing scholarship has given due credence to these perils by examining various associated risks and uncertainties. We observe that the extant literature is siloed and unorganized, which impedes future research. Positing that an endeavor to organize existing studies may enhance the pace of research in the area, we attempt to address this gap by reviewing the relevant literature. We thus utilize the systematic literature review approach to identify, synthesize, and critically analyze 80 related research articles. Based on this analysis, we present the bibliometric profile of the extant research and a typology of five risks in open innovation: data-related risks, people-related risks, firm-level risks, outcome risks, and other risks. In addition, we discuss a specific risk management approach for each of the identified risks. Beyond providing a lucid narrative of the extant literature, we also identify unexplored avenues and offer an overarching framework to conceptualize future research potential in the area. From a practical perspective, managers can utilize this framework as a risk assessment tool when engaging in open innovation. In sum, this review—one of the first of its kind—offers a valuable consolidation of the state of the art of open innovation risk research, which can meaningfully advance theory and practice in the area.

Keywords

addition, analysis, approach, area, art, article, assessment tool, attention, avenues, bibliometric profile, concern, consolidation, credence, dark side, due credence, endeavor, extant literature, extant research, firm-level risk, firms, framework, future research, future research potential, gap, horizon, importance, innovation, innovation paradigm, literature, literature review approach, management approach, managers, narratives, new opportunities, open innovation, open innovation paradigm, opportunities, outcome risk, overarching framework, pace, pace of research, paradigm, perils, perspective, potential, practical perspective, practice, profile, relevant literature, research, research articles, research potential, review, review approach, review one, risk, risk assessment tool, risk management approach, risk research, scholars, scholarship, sector, side, state, study, sum, systematic literature review approach, systematic review, theory, tool, typology, uncertainty, unexplored avenue, values