Exploring high-technology firms´ open innovation strategy and performance from knowledge-based view

Many studies have indicated that open innovation is critical to superior performance, yet findings have demonstrated the importance of different sources of abundant external knowledge to innovation efforts. In this study, we attempt to link open innovation view and knowledge-based view to explain how a firm´s external technology acquisition ability influences its innovation deployment, as well as performance. That is, grounded in the open innovation view and knowledge-based view literatures, this study identifies key factors that allow for inbound open innovation and increase its efficacy and effects in a high competitive environment contingency. Based on a survey of high-technology firms, the results support the expectation that the ability to build well-developed collaboration channels with external connections in a competitive environment will increase the efficacy of inbound open innovation in achieving superior performance.