RETHINKING THE ROLE OF INTERMEDIARIES AS AN ARCHITECT OF COLLECTIVE EXPLORATION AND CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN OPEN INNOVATION

Marine Agogué (), Anna Yström () and Pascal Le Masson ()
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Marine Agogué: MINES Paristech, CGS-Center for Management Science, 60 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, France
Anna Yström: Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Technology Management and Economics, Vera Sandbergs allé 8, S-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
Pascal Le Masson: MINES Paristech, CGS-Center for Management Science, 60 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, France

International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), 2013, vol. 17, issue 02, 1-24

Abstract: This paper questions the applicability of traditional notions of intermediary activities, which are usually categorized as either brokering or networking, in cases of high uncertainty regarding technologies, markets or which actors to involve. In the case of collaborative open innovation, especially in circumstances when no single organization is able to take on the challenge alone, the activities traditionally associated with intermediation do not suffice to describe what an intermediary can do to support innovation. This paper presents two cases of intermediaries working with the early phases of traffic safety innovations, and how they have managed to develop their activities beyond solely brokering and networking, but also to take an active role in the process of joint exploration and creation of knowledge. We use a qualitative approach to analyze the two cases in order to provide examples of how rethinking intermediation activities can support open innovation in a collaborative setting. The findings suggest that intermediaries can take on a more active role, which could be described as an architect which designs prerequisites and offers leadership in the process of joint exploration and creation of knowledge.

Keywords: Innovation intermediaries; open innovation; collaborative innovation; case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (34)

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DOI: 10.1142/S1363919613500072

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