Knowledge distribution compels firms to search outside for new knowledge to sustain their competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper concerns the role of network structures and inter-organisational relations on ‘purposive knowledge inflow.’ It also aims to suggest network conditions for enhancing knowledge flow in different types of open innovation practices with suppliers. Based on the past research, four types of open innovation approaches, through which focal firms can gain access to their suppliers’ knowledge, are considered. Building on extensive open innovation literature and social network theory, we develop a conceptual model that identifies network conditions for each open innovation practice with suppliers. The contribution of this paper is in extending the body of the literature in open innovation research by proposing a framework that conceptualises the role of social networks in open innovation practices. The proposed framework can be useful to practitioners in adopting the most favourable network conditions and also classifies supply network conditions based on the open innovation practices

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how focal firms in supply networks manage weak and strong ties for exploration and exploitation innovation in mature industries. In doing so, the paper extends the understanding of how focal firms manage open innovation (OI).Design/methodology/approachThe empirical base is a multiple case study conducted on three companies operating in mature industries in Europe.FindingsFindings of this study reveal, analyze and explain a diverse set of OI practices in the supply networks of mature industries in which the focal firms integrate strong and weak supply ties to enhance innovation outcomes. This study provides a fine-grained view of the benefits of the additive and interactive effects of strong and weak ties in OI. More specifically, the analysis reveals an enhancing role of strong supply ties in exploration, which previously was associated solely with weak ties. Moreover, this study sheds light on the dominant and orchestrating roles of focal firms.Practical implicationsThe findings provide insights to enhance OI practices beyond the limited role of the weak ties of the supply network and highlight the essential role of the strong supply ties in mature industries.Originality/valueWhile previous studies have associated exploration with weak ties, findings of this study reveal that exploration-oriented activities in mature industries also extend to strong ties. In the strong ties of mature industries, this study finds there is not only the exploitation of existing knowledge but also the reconfiguration and innovation of products.

No abstract

Considering the complexity and dynamics that firms are facing in a digital era, it is no exaggeration to argue that the way boards of directors contribute to strategy needs some new perspectives. In this article, we reconsider some of the commonly used notions and assumptions of board strategizing. We conceptualize a framework for board strategizing by revisiting and providing novel elements to the work introduced by McNulty and Pettigrew in 1999 (Strategists on the board. Organization Studies, 20(1): 47-74). Our framework highlights several timely board practices that have the potential to improve the way boards strategize under conditions of increasing digitalization. Further, the findings suggest that valuable strategic actions and priorities can be made by boards that use and develop dynamic capabilities as they strategize. Implications for theory and practice as well as future research directions are discussed.

No abstract