The objective of this thesis is to offer a combined research-based approach for improving new product development processes by means of exchanging proficiencies with externals. More accurately, a critical assessment of the suitability of selected open innovation methodologies at different stages of the innovation process enhances the research focus of this thesis.
In the wake of globalization and digitization trends, entire industrial dynamics have transformed. Particularly product innovation management has significantly matured over the past decades and therefore, gained special attention. Manufacturers are nowadays able to serve regional as well as international markets, while taking advantage of distributed resources and expertise.
On the downside, firms are steadily confronted by two predominant challenges: First, lead times for launching new products are dramatically decreasing due to shortened product life cycles. Hence, development projects need to be well-structured and more time-efficient. Secondly, sophisticated knowledge and expertise evolve more rapidly. Consequently, industrials become more specialized in subfields, which forces manufacturers to engage with others to carry out development projects.
In order to stay competitive in international and fast changing markets, organizations are required to innovate on a regular basis. Though, innovation development has become increasingly challenging and frustrating. New products are supposed to generate higher sales, while revenue margins are decreasing at the same time. Even successful corporations cannot keep up with regularly launching highly performing innovations.
Therefore, many manufacturers rather focus on incremental product improvements instead of developing radical innovations. Particularly as a company grows, the obstacles of launching successful new products become even more difficult to overcome. Simultaneously balancing the needs of new and existing customers as well as discovering new business lines, while pursuing extant business models portray omnipresent struggles of leading firms.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Problem Statement
- 1.2 Research Question
- 1.3 Conceptual Framework
- 2 Theoretical Framework
- 2.1 The Concept of Innovation
- 2.1.1 Definition of Innovation
- 2.1.2 Innovation Indicators
- 2.2 Innovation Process
- 2.2.1 Origin and Development of the Stage-Gate Process
- 2.2.2 Process Components
- 2.2.3 Evolution of the Stage-Gate System
- 2.2.3.1 Third-Generation Process
- 2.2.3.2 Next-Generation Stage-Gate System
- 2.2.4 Next-Generation Idea-to-Launch System
- 2.3 Open Innovation
- 2.3.1 The Closed Innovation Paradigm
- 2.3.2 The Open Innovation Paradigm
- 2.3.3 Enablers and Obstacles
- 2.3.4 Types of Open Innovation
- 2.3.4.1 Inside-Out Process
- 2.3.4.2 Outside-In Process
- 2.3.4.3 Coupled Process
- 2.1 The Concept of Innovation
- 3 Combination of Conceptual Findings
- 3.1 State of Research
- 3.2 Application of Selected Open Innovation Approaches at Different Stages of the Innovation Process
- 3.2.1 Discovery: Idea Generation
- 3.2.2 Stage 1: Idea Scoping
- 3.2.3 Stage 2: Build Business Case
- 3.2.4 Stage 3: Development
- 3.2.5 Stage 4: Testing and Validation
- 3.2.6 Stage 5: Launch
- 3.3 Summary and Evaluation of Findings
- 3.3.1 Out-Licensing or Selling IP
- 3.3.2 Customer Involvement
- 3.3.3 Supplier Involvement
- 3.3.4 In-Licensing or Buying IP
- 3.3.5 Alliances with Universities
- 3.3.6 Alliances with Competitors
Objectives and Key Themes
This master's thesis aims to investigate the suitability of various open innovation approaches at different stages of the innovation process. It explores the theoretical framework of open innovation, contrasting it with closed innovation, and analyzes how different open innovation strategies can be effectively integrated into established innovation process models like the Stage-Gate process.
- Open innovation approaches and their application within innovation processes
- Suitability of different open innovation methods at various stages of innovation
- Comparison of open and closed innovation paradigms
- Analysis of the Stage-Gate process and its adaptability to open innovation
- Identification of enablers and obstacles for successful open innovation implementation
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the research topic, focusing on the challenges of integrating open innovation approaches into existing innovation processes. It clearly defines the research question and outlines the conceptual framework that guides the subsequent analysis. The problem statement highlights the gap in existing literature regarding the optimal application of open innovation methods at different stages of product development. The chapter lays a solid foundation for the theoretical exploration and empirical investigation that follows.
2 Theoretical Framework: This chapter establishes a solid theoretical foundation by comprehensively exploring the concepts of innovation and open innovation. It provides a detailed examination of the innovation process, specifically focusing on the Stage-Gate process and its various iterations. The chapter contrasts the closed innovation paradigm with the open innovation paradigm, analyzing their respective strengths and weaknesses. The various types of open innovation – inside-out, outside-in, and coupled processes – are carefully defined and differentiated, providing the necessary context for the subsequent analysis of their suitability at different stages of the innovation process. This chapter is crucial in establishing the theoretical lens through which the research question will be addressed.
3 Combination of Conceptual Findings: This chapter synthesizes the theoretical framework with empirical findings to evaluate the suitability of different open innovation approaches at various stages of the innovation process. The chapter begins with a review of the existing literature on the topic, highlighting both the state of research and the identified research gaps. It then proceeds to analyze the practical application of specific open innovation approaches such as out-licensing, customer involvement, supplier involvement, in-licensing and alliances. The suitability of each approach is carefully assessed for each stage of the Stage-Gate process. This chapter connects theory to practice and forms the core of the thesis's empirical contribution.
Keywords
Open Innovation, Closed Innovation, Stage-Gate Process, Innovation Process, Idea Generation, Idea Scoping, Business Case Development, Product Development, Testing and Validation, Product Launch, Out-Licensing, In-Licensing, Customer Involvement, Supplier Involvement, Alliances, Intellectual Property (IP).
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This document provides a comprehensive preview of a language resource, including the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It serves as an overview to understand the structure and content of the main text.
What topics are covered in the document?
The document covers the theoretical framework of open and closed innovation, the Stage-Gate innovation process, and the application of various open innovation approaches at different stages of the innovation process. It analyzes different types of open innovation (inside-out, outside-in, coupled) and their suitability for idea generation, scoping, business case development, product development, testing, validation, and launch.
What is the structure of the main text?
The main text is divided into three chapters: Chapter 1 (Introduction) sets the scene, Chapter 2 (Theoretical Framework) details the concepts of open and closed innovation and the Stage-Gate process, and Chapter 3 (Combination of Conceptual Findings) applies the theory to practice, analyzing open innovation approaches at different stages of product development.
What are the key objectives of the research?
The main research aims to investigate the suitability of various open innovation approaches at different stages of the innovation process. This includes comparing open and closed innovation paradigms, analyzing the adaptability of the Stage-Gate process to open innovation, and identifying enablers and obstacles for successful open innovation implementation.
What are the key themes explored in the research?
Key themes include open innovation approaches and their application within innovation processes, the suitability of different open innovation methods at various stages of innovation, a comparison of open and closed innovation paradigms, an analysis of the Stage-Gate process and its adaptability to open innovation, and the identification of enablers and obstacles for successful open innovation implementation.
What specific open innovation approaches are analyzed?
The research analyzes out-licensing or selling IP, customer involvement, supplier involvement, in-licensing or buying IP, alliances with universities, and alliances with competitors.
What is the Stage-Gate process?
The Stage-Gate process is a structured approach to managing the innovation process, dividing it into distinct stages (idea generation, scoping, business case development, etc.) with gates (decision points) between each stage to evaluate progress and decide whether to proceed.
What are the different types of open innovation processes?
The document explores three types of open innovation processes: inside-out (selling internally developed ideas externally), outside-in (acquiring external ideas), and coupled (combining internal and external knowledge).
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include Open Innovation, Closed Innovation, Stage-Gate Process, Innovation Process, Idea Generation, Idea Scoping, Business Case Development, Product Development, Testing and Validation, Product Launch, Out-Licensing, In-Licensing, Customer Involvement, Supplier Involvement, Alliances, and Intellectual Property (IP).
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- Claudia Specht (Author), 2019, Open Innovation Approaches at Different Stages of the Innovation Process. Suitability for New Product Development Processes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/540254
