The Role of Culture in Managing Open Innovation Projects within Regional Clusters

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to investigate the cultural barriers to open innovation projects within Moroccan clusters. Based on a qualitative approach, 22 semi-structured interviews with the representatives of four categories of open innovation project members within the three Moroccan clusters were conducted. The results demonstrate how certain aspects of national culture influence partners’ behaviour in open innovation projects within innovation clusters, and what dimensions of the organisational culture of the members involved in these projects should be modified to match better with an open innovation paradigm. The findings confirm that only organizations with strong dynamic capabilities will be able to take full advantage of open innovation practices and that one of the three high-level dynamic capabilities is transformation capability that is about transforming organizational culture by promoting the open innovation culture.