Innovative behavior and interactions in municipal innovation ecosystems

Abstract

Open innovation ecosystems play an important role in corporate and product innovation and contribute to the success of economic development at the municipal level, yet there is little research on the factors driving innovative behavior within a municipal innovation ecosystem (MIE). This study explores how the interpersonal and intrapersonal resources of the individuals involved contribute to innovative behavior within a city’s innovation ecosystem. This study applies a mixed-method approach to build a novel framework to examine innovative behavior in the Mobile, Alabama, municipality. A moderated mediation model is tested using PLS-SEM. The qualitative findings presented in this study uncover new constructs useful for assessing innovation at the individual level in a municipality. Scale development steps are employed to validate these new constructs. The SEM results suggest that personal resources and social interactions impact innovative behavior in an MIE.