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From Closed to Open Innovation: The Evolving Nature of Teams and the Use of Information Technology

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Information Technology and Product Development

Part of the book series: Annals of Information Systems ((AOIS,volume 5))

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Abstract

Innovation is both rewarding and risky. However, external environmental pressures resulting from increasing globalization, rapid technological advancements, increasing competitive pressure, and a fluctuating marketplace force firms to continually rethink their innovation models. Newer models suggest more open collaboration, increased interdependence between firms, shared resources, and network-centric practices. As firms adapt to more openness, boundaries blur between intra- and inter-organizational teams. Challenges surface regarding how to manage new relationships within the firm as well as those with customers, suppliers, and even competitors. Firms must now reassess their capabilities and the associated risks and rewards of moving to more open forms of innovation. In this chapter, we characterize closed and more open innovation models and compare and contrast factors facilitating the use of each one. We explore the role of the team, a pivotal force spearheading innovation, and the role of information technology (IT) in supporting both teams and teamwork. While IT makes it possible to structure, facilitate, and manage open innovation, increasing demand for alternative and more adaptive innovation models will spur an increased demand for new forms of technology that can make it all possible. We provide in-depth case study analysis with several large multinational firms and an extensive review of the literature to enhance our understanding of innovation success. The chapter concludes with several suggestions for future research on this topic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Business, Northern Illinois University, 60115-2897, DeKalb, IL, USA

    Elisa Fredericks

  2. College of Business Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60607-7124, Chicago, IL, USA

    Dawn R. Schneider

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  1. Elisa Fredericks
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Correspondence to Elisa Fredericks .

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  1. Lally School of Management &, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., 8th Street 110, Troy, 12180, U.S.A.

    Satish Nambisan

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Fredericks, E., Schneider, D.R. (2010). From Closed to Open Innovation: The Evolving Nature of Teams and the Use of Information Technology. In: Nambisan, S. (eds) Information Technology and Product Development. Annals of Information Systems, vol 5. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1081-3_7

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