COORDINATION MECHANISMS OF COLLABORATIVE R&D PROJECTS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ABSTRACT Purpose: To analyze how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) coordinate collaborative research and development (R&D) projects through an open innovation strategy. Originality/value: This research was motivated by a theoretical gap in the management of collaborative R&D projects in open innovation strategies. The originality of the paper is to advance the understanding of coordination mechanisms that SMEs can use to manage open innovation and obtain more effective results. Design/methodology/approach: The research followed a qualitative approach, through three case studies of collaborative projects. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with eleven managers directly involved in collaborative R&D projects. Findings: Results demonstrate that the use of coordination mechanisms depends on the applicability of each project’s results, i.e., the higher the chances of a certain R&D project becoming a real product, the higher the importance given to the coordination mechanisms. On the cases observed, the coordination mechanisms were defined by the enterprise, not by external partners. In addition, it was observed that open innovation projects that the enterprise seeks for external knowledge to complement internal resources (outside-in) were considered more important than transferring internal knowledge to external partners (inside-out). The paper contributes to organizational theory by highlighting the relation between the characteristics of collaborative R&D projects and the coordination mechanisms used. Regarding the managerial contribution, results serve as a guide for entrepreneurs and managers of SMEs interested in coordinating collaborative projects based on open innovation processes.

摘要
研究目的：分析中小企业（Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs）如何通过开放式创新（open innovation）策略协调合作研发（Research and Development, R&D）项目。
研究创新性与价值：本研究的动因源于开放式创新策略下合作研发项目管理领域存在的理论空白。本文的创新之处在于深化了对中小企业可用于管理开放式创新并获取更高效成果的协调机制的认知。
研究设计与方法：本研究采用定性研究方法，针对三项合作研发项目开展案例研究。通过对11名直接参与合作研发项目的管理者开展深度访谈收集研究数据。
研究发现：研究结果表明，协调机制的选用取决于各项目成果的适用性，即某研发项目转化为实体产品的概率越高，对协调机制的重视程度也就越高。就本次观测的案例而言，协调机制由企业自主制定，而非由外部合作方确定。此外，研究还发现，企业为补充内部资源而寻求外部知识的开放式创新项目（outside-in），相较于向外部合作方转移内部知识的开放式创新项目（inside-out），被赋予了更高的重要性。
研究贡献：本文通过揭示合作研发项目特征与所用协调机制之间的关联，为组织理论研究作出了贡献。就管理实践价值而言，本研究结果可为有意基于开放式创新流程协调合作项目的中小企业创业者与管理者提供实践指引。