Research methods. To get a better understanding of research done on open innovation a systematic search of literature publications up until March 31, 2008 was performed through University of Hasselt’s library, interlibrary exchanges, Internet and two major databases of management journals: • ISI Web of Knowledge-database o search terms “open innovation”, “open business models” in title, keywords or abstract; • EBSCO Host o search terms “open innovation” and “open business models” in title, keywords or abstract. The benefit of the current method is that it enables a comprehensive analysis of the books and articles published in the specified time period. As the aim was to gain an overview of research conducted within the open innovation field, the book reviews and columns discussing or mentioning open innovation in general terms were excluded from further analysis of the publications in the field. The most published and cited author is Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx who coined the term in 2003. What this search tells us is that the topic has been mainly dealt with as a pure innovation issue and that other aspects and consequences of organizing for open innovation have not been drawn in the open innovation literature. Most of the journal articles appear in practitioner oriented journals (here: Academy of Management Perspectives, California Management Review, Harvard Business Review, McKinsey Quarterly, Sloan Management Review, Research-Technology Management). It is also worthwhile mentioning that about half of them are based upon case studies. The papers and books were read, analyzed and grouped according to their thematic content. Several of the publications naturally have bearing on several of the generated themes. After several round of iterations, the following categories were defined: • The notion of open innovation; • Business models; • Organizational design and boundaries of the firm; • Leadership and culture; • Tools, technologies; • IP, patenting and appropriation; • Industrial dynamics and manufacturing.
