Open Process Innovation: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

In this paper, the authors examined how the openness in firms’ boundaries is feasible when doing process innovation and what determines this open process innovation. They consolidated previous researches on process innovation through a precise systematic review of the 68 researches published between 2001 and 2020; then synthesized various research-based findings into a comprehensive framework of OPI attributes and pillars. OPI attributes presents four main themes as technology intensity, significance, magnitude and locus of exploitation. OPI pillars are consistent of mechanisms, partners, achievements and antecedents. Finally, the missing links in the literature are critically analyzed to provide future research agenda through three main paths: 1) to use more variety of methods - changing quantitative dominance to qualitative and multi-method approaches; 2) to emphasize theory development and testing; 3) to conduct more cross-national and cross-sectoral studies.