Innovating beyond boundaries: enhancing firms’ dynamic capabilities through open innovation

Abstract

This article analyses how firms enhance their dynamic capabilities through open innovation activities. While previous research has acknowledged the potential of integrating dynamic capabilities and open innovation, existing studies are fragmented in that they neither build upon one another nor offer a comprehensive framework. Instead, they often focus on isolated aspects of dynamic capabilities, resulting in disparate, incoherent insights. This fragmentation hinders the development of actionable insights for organizations aiming to systematically enhance their innovation processes through open innovation. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify key dimensions that link open innovation activities to the sensing, seizing and transforming phases—the core components of dynamic capabilities. The resulting framework offers an integrative perspective that goes beyond fragmented research findings and provides a structured approach to operationalizing open innovation. The framework transitions open innovation from an abstract concept to a practical tool that can be systematically embedded into firms’ innovation processes. Additionally, by situating dynamic capabilities within the context of innovation management, the framework expands their theoretical and practical utility. This study provides actionable insights for practitioners and establishes a consolidated foundation for future research, thus enhancing the theoretical and practical impacts of open innovation.