Alejandro Germán Frank, Guilherme Brittes Benitez, Mateus Ferreira Lima and João Augusto Bonzanini Bernardi
Open innovation breadth (OIB) considers the diversity of external collaboration partners for innovation. The authors investigate the moderating effect of OIB on the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
Open innovation breadth (OIB) considers the diversity of external collaboration partners for innovation. The authors investigate the moderating effect of OIB on the relationship between industrial innovation activities (innovation inputs) and industrial innovation results (innovation outputs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on secondary data from the Brazilian innovation survey, representing more than 30,000 innovative companies across 55 industrial sectors.
Findings
This study’s results show that OIB has different moderating effects regarding the several innovation input–output relationships. While OIB benefits some relationships, others are hampered by the diversity of collaboration partners.
Originality/value
Few studies have addressed OIB at the macro level. Using the perspective of transaction cost economics (TCE), the authors discuss the contributions and limitations of OIB at the industry level.
Details
Keywords
Guilherme Brittes Benitez, Mateus Ferreira-Lima, Néstor F. Ayala and Alejandro G. Frank
The provision of Industry 4.0 solutions demands a vast range of technology domains. To provide these solutions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may need the support of…
Abstract
Purpose
The provision of Industry 4.0 solutions demands a vast range of technology domains. To provide these solutions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may need the support of different supply chain actors through an inbound open innovation strategy. The authors study the contribution of four types of supply chain actors for inbound open innovation: suppliers, competitors with complementary technologies, R&D centers and customers. The authors analyze how these four actors moderate the effect of integrated Industry 4.0 solutions on three main competitive strategies: cost, focalization and differentiation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a survey on 77 SMEs from the automation sector, using OLS regression with moderating effects. They considered the integration of 15 technologies and 7 classic automation activities in the provision of Industry 4.0 solutions. The authors also studied three competitive outputs – technology cost reduction (cost), customer loyalty (focalization) and technology innovation (differentiation) – as well as four supply chain actors (moderators).
Findings
Expanding the provision of Industry 4.0 technologies increases customer loyalty and technology innovation. Collaboration with competitors (complementary technologies) leverage these results and reduce technology costs. Integration between customers and R&D centers elevates costs but R&D centers can foster long-run innovation.
Originality/value
This study is the first to empirically investigate inbound open innovation in the supply chain for technology development in the context of Industry 4.0. The authors discuss how these actors contribute to four inbound open innovation activities: technology scouting; horizontal technology collaboration; vertical technology collaboration; and technology sourcing.
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Mateus do Rego Ferreira Lima, Cíntia Wilke Franco and Guilherme Brittes Benitez
The integration of front-end technologies such as automation, process simulation and augmented reality with Just-in-Time (JIT) practices can yield unforeseen outcomes in…
Abstract
Purpose
The integration of front-end technologies such as automation, process simulation and augmented reality with Just-in-Time (JIT) practices can yield unforeseen outcomes in manufacturing due to complex dynamics. This study examines this integration’s impact on manufacturing firms' performance.
Design/methodology/approach
We design a survey questionnaire and distributed it among 353 Brazilian manufacturing firms to conduct our investigation. We utilize a combination of factorial and regression analyses with moderation within our final sample, composed of 262 manufacturing firms. Our goal is to examine the impact of aligning front-end technologies and JIT on the operational and economic performance of these manufacturing firms. We adopt complexity theory as our theoretical framework, recognizing and accommodating the intrinsic unpredictability and uncertainty inherent in complex scenarios such as technology adoption and its interplay with firm culture, adoption time and technology adoption resistance.
Findings
Our findings indicate that JIT influences the use of front-end technologies both positively and negatively. Regarding operational performance, JIT has a positive moderation effect on automation and a negative moderation effect on process simulation. Conversely, for economic performance, JIT positively moderates process simulation and negatively moderates automation.
Practical implications
We provide empirical evidence for managers to carefully assess the compatibility of technology adoption strategies with existing organizational culture and operational practices to maximize performance outcomes.
Originality/value
Our study advances complexity theory by elucidating the impacts of integrating front-end digital technologies with JIT practices within the unique scenario of the Brazilian manufacturing industry. More specifically, our theoretical framework offers a new perspective on the unpredictable nature of performance outcomes regarding technology adoption in operations.