Open Innovation and Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Enterprises

The book studies the interplay between open innovation and knowledge management issues in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the proliferation of the open innovation paradigm and against the backdrop of increasing external knowledge transfer activities, knowledge management is more important than ever for innovation and firm performance of any type of organization. In fact, knowledge management is no longer a pure intra-organizational activity but constitutes a vital interface function between the organization and its external partners/stakeholders.

Throughout the book, readers will obtain both a broad overview of the two main concepts namely open innovation and knowledge management and its interplay. In addition, research will be presented which will help the readers to develop and/or expand their understanding of the phenomenon. This broad approach can also support in broadening the mindset regarding the topic under investigation and its application. Thereby, this book will primarily focus on SMEs and their approach with respect to the interplay in question.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim, the book consists of ten chapters that are assigned to three parts. Part 1 introduces to the main concepts, namely, SMEs, Open Innovation, Knowledge Management, and the interplay between open innovation and knowledge management in SMEs. This is followed by Part 2, which provides empirical research insights into the phenomenon of interest. The book concludes with Part 3 which addresses promising future avenues regarding the study of open innovation and knowledge management in SMEs. All the chapters are written by leading international researchers in the respective fields, which makes the book a unique piece of work.

Contents:

• Preface

• About the Editors

• About the Contributors

• Introduction (Susanne Durst, Serdal Temel, and Helio Aisenberg Ferenhof)

• Introduction to Main Concepts:

  • Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) (Thomas Henschel and Ilka Heinze)
  • The Concept of Open Innovation (Ilker Murat Ar)
  • Knowledge Management (Helio Aisenberg Ferenhof)
  • The Interplay between Open Innovation and Knowledge Management in SMEs (Serdal Temel and Susanne Durst)

• Research Insights:

  • Knowledge Creation and Open Innovation in High-Technology SMEs (Elsa Grimsdottir and Ingi Runar Edvardsson)
  • Knowledge Sharing and Open Innovation (Ardalan Haghighi Talab, Victor Scholten, and Cees van Beers)
  • Comparing Open Innovation of Innovative Food SMEs with SMEs in the Seed and High-Tech Industries — An Analysis of 15 SMEs in the Netherlands (Onno Omta, Frances Fortuin, and Niels Dijkman)
  • ALITE: Open Innovation and Experimentation in a Small Learning Organization (Joaquín Alegre, Francisco Romera, Ana García-Granero, and Anabel Fernández-Mesa)
  • Mitigation of Knowledge Risks in Open Innovation (Haley Wing Chi Tsang and Rongbin W B Lee)

• The Future:

  • Open Innovation and Knowledge Management in SMEs: What Comes Next? (Susanne Durst and Serdal Temel)

• Index

Readership: Graduate students and researchers in the fields of open innovation and knowledge management.
Key Features:

• Unique treatment of addressing the interface between open innovation and knowledge management from a SME point of view
• Contributions from authors from different parts of the world