The Role of Open Innovation in Enhancing Organizational Resilience and Sustainability Performance Through Organizational Adaptability

Kinda Saemaldaher and Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali ()
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Kinda Saemaldaher: Department of Business Management, Girne American University, Kyrenia 99138, Cyprus
Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali: Department of Business Management, Girne American University, Kyrenia 99138, Cyprus

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the influence of open innovation on both resilience and sustainability, with the mediating effect of adaptability. This investigation is conducted through the lens of dynamic capabilities theory. Although many researchers regard OI as a crucial detector for performance enhancement, the mediating effect of OA in shaping the pathways in which it plays a mediating role in both OR and SP remains unexplored. While the majority of previous studies approached open innovation through inbound and outbound innovation positioned as a mediator or by investigating its direct impact either on OR or overall performance, few have concurrently approached it from the breadth and depth dimensions with respect to either performance or resilience. This study offers a comprehensive approach through its unique elements in which all underexplored factors are combined in one theoretical framework. To the best of our knowledge, this study is a pioneer in the UAE business market, providing insights from multisector employee-level data that differs from previous management-focused research. The data was analyzed using the SmartPLS 4 SEM approach. The findings indicate that OID directly influences OR, underscoring the significance of deep and sustained external collaboration. Meanwhile, OIB indirectly contributes to OR through OA, highlighting the significance of the mediating impact of OA. Moreover, both OIB and OID influence SP, positioning OI as a strategic lever for long-term, sustainable performance. This study contributes to the existing body of research by offering nuanced insights into and details on how organizations can benefit from various OI strategies that enhance resilience and sustainability in today’s dynamic business environments.

Keywords: Open Innovation (OI); Open Innovation Breadth (OIB); Open Innovation Depth (OID); Organizational Resilience (OR); Dynamic Capabilities theory (DCT); Sustainability Performance (SP); Organizational Adaptability (OA); Partial Least Squares (PLS); Structure Equation Modeling (SEM) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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