Open Innovation Strategies Applied by SMEs from Mexican Software Clusters. A Multiple Case Study Analysis

Masterarbeit , 2018 , 186 Seiten , Note: 82,0

BWL - Unternehmensführung, Management, Organisation

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.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Table of contents
• List of exhibits
• List of tables
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Literature review
• 2.1 Open innovation activities as an element of entrepreneurship
• 2.1.1 Rudiments of innovation and innovative entrepreneurship
• 2.1.2 Distinction of the open innovation approach
• 2.1.3 Benefits and issues of implementing open innovation activities at SMEs
• 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
• 3.1.3.1 The multiple case study strategy
• 3.1.3.2 The focus on a qualitative approach
• 3.1.3.3 The planned number of cases versus the real outcome
• 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
• 5.3.1.1 Similarities between the firms’ open innovation approaches and the key literature
• 5.3.1.2 Divergences between the firms’ open innovation approaches and the key literature
• 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
• References
• Appendices

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

• This dissertation investigates SMEs from a knowledge-based industrial branch of an emerging economy and the relationship between the practices of their internal innovation management and their outward inter-organisational, transdisciplinary process of sourcing knowledge and ideas for the optimisation of the own absorptive capacity.
• The dissertation includes SMEs as the principal object of observation, which have remained underrepresented in open innovation research in comparison with large corporations from advanced countries.
• The dissertation tackles the dilemma that conclusions drawn from the synergistic environments of clusters situated in industrialised economies may hardly be conveyed to emerging economies.
• The dissertation promotes the specification of the notion of openness not through emphasising the number, but the composition and quality of the linkages between SMEs and their respective collaborators originating from various domains.
• This research project explores the truth behind the assumption that SMEs are able to perform better at innovating than their larger contemporaries because of a higher willingness to take risks and a higher flexibility mirrored by shorter chains of command and less bureaucracy.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1 provides a general overview over open innovation strategies.
• Chapter 2 examines the role of clusters in terms of open innovation and analyses the history of the Mexican software clusters of Mexico City and Monterrey.
• Chapter 3 presents the methodology used in this research project and outlines the sampling, data collection and analysis procedures.
• Chapter 4 provides detailed case narratives of three software SMEs from Mexico City and Monterrey, highlighting their specific approaches to open innovation.
• Chapter 5 analyzes the commonalities and differences between the three cases.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This dissertation focuses on the strategies applied by SMEs from the Mexican software clusters to leverage both local and global resources for knowledge exchange and to promote their own innovation activities. This includes aspects like inclusive and exclusive education, empirical research findings, and studies such as the BiLieF project.

• Hochschule: Sheffield Hallam University
• Note: 82,0
• Autor: Axel Capalbo (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2018
• Seiten: 186
• Katalognummer: V1010168
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346403223
• ISBN (Buch): 9783346403230
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: innovation management, software industry, software, smes, mexico, mexican, open innovation, strategies, knowledge management, software clusters, inductive case studies, local buzz, global pipelines, local ties, supra-regional ties, qualitative interviews, english, spanish, mexico city, monterrey, multiple case study, r&d, research, development, research and development, small and middle-sized companies