Configuring HRM Practices for Open Innovation: But Can It Deliver?

Abstract

Though current scholarly interest generates a sustained growth of literature on open innovation, we need to learn more about human resource practices relating to open innovation. Building on the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) framework, we demonstrate the differential impact of human resources practice bundles on open innovation. We also find evidence that motivation-enhancing and competency-enhancing practices share a compensating effect on open innovation. Using firm-level data from 2540 Italian manufacturing firms, our study, if not first, contributes to the growing bodies of research on open innovation by bringing forth the human dimension to the forefront and offering a drilled-down practice-level view that needs to be addressed in the literature.