Explicating the role of innovation intermediaries in the 'unknown': a contingency approach

Marine Agogué, Elsa Berthet (), Tobias Fredberg, Pascal Le Masson (), Blanche Segrestin (), Martin Stoetzel, Martin Wiener and Anna Yström
Additional contact information
Marine Agogué: HEC Montréal - HEC Montréal
Elsa Berthet: INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
Tobias Fredberg: Management of Organizational Renewal and Entrepreneurship - Chalmers University of Technology [Göteborg]
Pascal Le Masson: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Blanche Segrestin: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Martin Stoetzel: Chair of Information Systems III - FAU - Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg = University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Martin Wiener: ZAE Bayern - Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research
Anna Yström: Management of Organizational Renewal and Entrepreneurship - Chalmers University of Technology [Göteborg]

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Abstract: Purpose – Innovation intermediaries have become key actors in open innovation (OI) contexts. Research has improved the understanding of the managerial challenges inherent to intermediation in situations in which problems are rather well defined. Yet, in some OI situations, the relevant actor networks may not be known, there may be no clear common interest, or severe problems may exist with no legitimate common place where they can be discussed. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the research on innovation intermediaries by showing how intermediaries address managerial challenges related to a high degree of unknown. Design/methodology/approach – The authors draw upon the extant literature to highlight the common core functions of different types of intermediaries. The authors then introduce the " degree of unknown " as a new contingency variable for the analysis of the role of intermediaries for each of these core functions. The authors illustrate the importance of this new variable with four empirical case studies in different industries and countries in which intermediaries are experiencing situations of high level of unknown. Findings – The authors highlight the specific managerial principles that the four intermediaries applied in creating an environment for collective innovation. Originality/value – Thereby, the authors clarify what intermediation in the unknown may entail.

Keywords: Innovation management; Innovation intermediaries; Degree of unknown; Open innovation; Collaborative innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ino, nep-ppm and nep-sbm
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://minesparis-psl.hal.science/hal-01481878v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

Published in Journal of Strategy and Management, 2017, 10 (1), pp.19 - 39. ⟨10.1108/JSMA-01-2015-0005⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01481878

DOI: 10.1108/JSMA-01-2015-0005

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