Impact of the Use of Knowledge Obtained Through Informal Exchanges on the Performance of Innovation Projects: For the Enrichment of Inbound Open Innovation Practices

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between the acquisition of knowledge through informal channels and performance of innovation projects. We propose that three forms of informal knowledge exchange, namely, knowledge sharing, knowledge presentation and knowledge transfer, positively impact the perceived performance of innovation projects. A survey of 360 individuals involved in innovation projects whose answers were analysed with PLSs reveals that knowledge, obtained through knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer with third parties outside the company by informal route and the simultaneous use of an innovation intermediary as part of these informal exchanges, positively impacts the three elements that have been chosen to measure the operational performance of innovation projects, namely, cost, time and quality. These results provide major contributions to the academic and managerial point of view and open up new vistas for research that derived directly from the demonstration that open innovation not only has to relay on formal agreements, but also to take into account the informal way of knowledge acquisition.

The role of collaborative human resource management in supporting open innovation: A multi-level model

“…Singh et al (2021) demonstrated that knowledge sharing is critical for effective innovation at individual, team, and organizational levels. Moreover, a survey of 360 individuals from around the world conducted by Dietsch and Khemiri (2018), found that knowledge sharing, presentation and transfer positively predicted perceived performance of innovation projects.…”

Informal relationships in a company’s internationalization process

“…The third stream of research on the role of external informal relationships refers to knowledge (Awazu, 2004; Balboni et al , 2017; Bouty, 2000; Dietsch and Khemiri, 2018; Marra, 2011). Awazu (2004) strongly emphasized that creation and transfer of knowledge should not be understood from within the boundaries of formal organizational mechanisms.…”

Social media communication of the scientific and technological literature in emergency under COVID-19

“…For example, in the field of academic communication, it can improve the efficiency of scientific communication (Marzena Świgoń, 2017 and Bai, 2017). In the field of project practice, it can enrich open innovation practices (Dietsch and Khemiri, 2018). The online scientific communication mode under the informal communication mode is the scientific communication in the new media environment (Shehata et al , 2017).…”