The centrepiece of this dissertation consists of the answer to the question of how SMEs from the Mexican software industry take advantage of both local and external sources for knowledge exchange in order to promote the own innovation activities. The corresponding insights counteract some inconsistencies regarding the mainstream research on open innovation activities, which were spotted during the literature review and specifically refer to the niche existence of SMEs and knowledge-driven clusters from emerging economies of Latin America and a major lack of a holistic perspective on the local situation and context.
In structural terms, it is worth mentioning that the golden thread of this dissertation follows a specific structure, starting with a literature review as the basis for the research question and the propositions. Then, the track of thoughts is continued with the explanation of a justified methodological idea, the documentation of the results, the analysis of the collected data and the discussion of the analysis’ contribution to the current state of knowledge. The lessons learned from this case study and suggestions for future research form the closing element of this document.
For a thorough coverage of this research gap, the author deployed a methodological construct consisting of a multiple case study strategy, mixed with an interpretivist philosophy and a predominantly inductive approach. Additionally, he resorted to a qualitative mono method featuring semi-structured interviews with open questions, realized within a cross-sectional time horizon between the middle of February and the middle of March. The target group comprised the CEOs of three software SMEs from the clusters of Mexico City and Monterrey, who voluntarily participated in said interviews after having agree to the sent e-mail requests.
Although the results underwent a triangulation and the conclusions may sound plausible, they still require an extensive reconfirmation in the given context, what might be attained via a series of additional inductive and qualitative multiple case studies covering more SMEs from several Mexican software clusters. A transition towards more deductive, longitudinal and quantitative studies would be only sensible if the previously mentioned kind of studies led to a basis reflecting the situation of these SMEs unambiguously.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature review
2.1 Open innovation activities as an element of entrepreneurship
2.2 The role of clusters, the local buzz and global pipelines in terms of open innovation
2.3 Open innovation activities in the context of Mexican software clusters
2.4 The resulting research gap, the research question and corresponding propositions
2.4.1 The research gap
2.4.2 The research question and propositions
3. Methodology
3.1 Key methodological choices
3.1.1 Research philosophy
3.1.2 Research approach
3.1.3 Research strategy
3.1.4 Data collection techniques
3.2 Sampling, data collection and analysis procedures
3.2.1 Sampling strategy
3.2.2 Interviews
3.2.3 Data analysis
3.3 Ethical considerations
4. Presentation of data
4.1 Case A1, Mexico City
4.1.1 Company profile
4.1.2 Internal approach towards innovation
4.1.3 Significance of the relationships between the company and its environment
4.2 Case B1, Monterrey
4.2.1 Company profile
4.2.2 Internal approach towards innovation
4.2.3 Significance of the relationships between the company and its environment
4.3 Case B2, Monterrey
4.3.1 Company profile
4.3.2 Internal approach towards innovation
4.3.3 Significance of the relationships between the company and its environment
5. Analysis and discussion
5.1 Cross-case analysis: observed commonalities across the cases
5.1.1 First thematic area: internal approach towards open innovation
5.1.2 Second thematic area: external dimension - the local buzz and global pipelines
5.2 Cross-case analysis: observed differences between the cases
5.2.1 First thematic area: internal attitude towards innovating
5.2.2 Second thematic area: external dimension - the local buzz and global pipelines
5.3 Discussion
5.3.1 Answer to the research question
5.3.2 Review of the original propositions
6. Conclusions
6.1 Lessons learned
6.2 Limitations of the conducted research
6.3 Recommendations
6.3.1 Managerial and political implications
6.3.2 Suggestions for future research
Research Objective and Key Themes
This dissertation explores how Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) within Mexican software clusters utilize local and global knowledge sources to advance their innovation activities. By bridging the gap in research regarding SMEs in emerging Latin American economies, the study investigates the relationship between internal innovation management and inter-organizational, transdisciplinary knowledge sourcing.
- Internal practices and organizational capabilities for open innovation.
- The utilization of local clusters ("local buzz") for regional knowledge exchange.
- The establishment of "global pipelines" for accessing international expertise and technology.
- The role of industrial-academic linkages in fostering innovation.
- Comparative analysis of SMEs across different Mexican software clusters (Mexico City and Monterrey).
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Rudiments of innovation and innovative entrepreneurship
The term innovation became more widely understood as a series of processes involving the adjustment of features of an existing product, service, production sequence, marketing concept or (inter)organisational business practice with the goal of accomplishing a significant improvement compared to its previous condition (Amberg, Bodendorf & Möslein, 2011; Hauschildt & Salomo, 2007).
One of the originators of this term, Joseph Schumpeter, also pointed out that, in contrast to an invention, an innovation rather serves as a commercialised solution to an already existent problem within a specific market niche with known, specific customer needs (Amberg et al., 2011; Mota & Scott, 2014; Schumpeter, 1934).
Simultaneously, he popularised the common understanding of an entrepreneur as an innovator within a creative-destructive system in order to guarantee the competitive survival of his business by discovering and exploit information advantages (Amberg et al., 2011; Guerrero & Molina, 2012; Mota & Scott, 2014; Schumpeter, 1934, 1942, 1961). To be exact, he/she is forced to continuously refresh his/her knowledge about the latest states of the buying and the sales markets, from which the crucial tangible and intangible capital may be retrieved and the real customer issues may be recognised (Amberg et al., 2011; Schumpeter, 1934).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the research scope, highlighting the unique context of Mexican software SMEs and the importance of understanding their open innovation strategies within emerging economies.
2. Literature review: This section provides a critical overview of innovation theories, entrepreneurship, and the role of clusters, ultimately establishing the research gap and the study's core propositions.
3. Methodology: This chapter details the research design, justifying the use of a multiple case study approach, interpretivist philosophy, and qualitative semi-structured interviews for data collection.
4. Presentation of data: Here, the empirical data from the three case study firms (A1, B1, and B2) is presented, describing their company profiles, internal innovation approaches, and environmental relationships.
5. Analysis and discussion: This section offers a structured comparison of the findings across the cases, connecting the evidence to existing parent literature and reviewing the original research propositions.
6. Conclusions: The final chapter summarizes the research findings, outlines the study's limitations, and provides actionable recommendations for managers and policymakers regarding open innovation in emerging market clusters.
Keywords
Open innovation, SMEs, Mexico, software clusters, knowledge sourcing, internal innovation management, local buzz, global pipelines, entrepreneurship, case study, technological absorption, emerging economies, inter-organizational collaboration, innovation strategy, industrial clusters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The research examines how SMEs within the Mexican software industry manage open innovation activities by leveraging both local and global knowledge sources to overcome resource constraints.
What are the key thematic areas addressed?
The study centers on the internal organizational practices of these SMEs and their external strategies, specifically the use of regional clusters and international networks for knowledge exchange.
What is the central research question?
The study asks: "How do SMEs from the Mexican software industry take advantage of both local and external sources for knowledge exchange in order to promote own innovation activities?"
Which scientific methods were employed?
The author utilized an interpretivist philosophy with a multiple case study strategy, employing qualitative semi-structured interviews with CEOs and data triangulation via secondary sources.
What does the main body cover?
It includes a comprehensive literature review, the detailed methodology, a descriptive presentation of three specific case studies, and a cross-case analysis discussing commonalities and differences.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include open innovation, SMEs, Mexico, software clusters, local buzz, global pipelines, and knowledge sourcing.
How does the study evaluate the role of spatial proximity?
It finds that while local proximity is relevant, it is not a sufficient driver for innovation on its own; global pipelines are identified as a necessary, complementary strategy for these SMEs.
What are the specific findings regarding the Mexican software clusters?
The study highlights that despite the competitive nature of the local market, these SMEs successfully balance intense domestic rivalry with international collaboration to enhance their technological capabilities.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Axel Capalbo (Autor:in), 2018, Open Innovation Strategies Applied by SMEs from Mexican Software Clusters. A Multiple Case Study Analysis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1010168
