The Relationship between Open Innovation and Strategy: Data-Driven Analysis of the Mobile Value Services Industry

As academic and practitioner studies on the subject amassed in the last decade 2003 - 2013, Open Innovation (OI) has gained growing importance in the broad field of Management and Information Systems. However, existing literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of the relationship existing between OI and a firm´s Strategy. Employing a data-driven research approach, based on forty-five qualitative interviews on firms operating in the Mobile Value Services Industry involved in OI undertakings, this study originally highlights six cross-themes the OI-Strategy relationship revolves around: 1) OI and Competitive Advantage, 2) OI and Strategic Positioning, 3) OI and Business Models, 4) OI in Networks, 5) OI and Co-opetition.; 6) OI and Resilient Business Advantages. For each theme, insights are provided concerning: sub themes, findings, criticalities, and areas of development. This reorganization of the real-world OI initiatives constitutes a comprehensive research agenda or roadmap, with value for both academics and practitioners.