Action Research Conceptualization - a paradigm for open innovation implementation and research during its occurrence

Abstract

Open innovation is a managerial concept pervasive among practitioners and academics. However both still lack proficiency of the open innovation implementation process. Therefore the paper inquires if and how the action research methodology can be: (i) applied as a mechanism for purposively implementing open innovation practice permanently into organizations (profit or non-profit) and (ii) an efficacious method for researching this process during its occurrence. Such research approach on a firm level, should on one hand meet the researchers and on the other hand the practitioners need. This methodological paper thus proposes a new theoretical framework which is built upon established theories. It shows that such framework could be used as a mechanism of research and management in the organizational change impetus, such as the implementation process of open innovation.