Inbound Open Innovation: What Does It Mean?

Abstract

There is a lack of open innovation definitions in the literature. This presents a problem if the topic is to advance beyond the initial founding thoughts. A review of the literature around open innovation has aided towards the development of a new definition of inbound open innovation. Formed out of the writings on business processes and dynamic capabilities, this article offers a timely contribution to the current research on open innovation. This article contributes to current theory by providing a fresh perspective on the definition of open innovation. At this moment in time, when greater amounts of empirical research is needed, providing new ways to think about open innovation is necessary, especially when alternatives are so sparse.