Valentina Lazzarotti - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Valentina Lazzarotti

Open innovation literature suggests that firms can improve their innovation performance by learni... more Open innovation literature suggests that firms can improve their innovation performance by learning from different actors and, among them, universities, research institutes and innovation intermediaries can play a relevant role. However, the success of such collaborations is still debated. In particular, the firms’ internal organizational context seems to be crucial to explain the success or failure of open innovation: firms attempting to leverage partners’ knowledge must design an appropriate internal organization, made of organizational practices and managerial mechanisms. Despite this assumption, the role of the firm’s internal context in fostering the success of open innovation is poorly investigated, in particular in the case of scientific partners (such as universities and research centers). Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the relations among: collaboration behavior between a firm and scientific partners, managerial mechanisms and both sides of innovative performance (i.e. novelty and efficiency). Our study, based upon a survey research developed in Finland, Italy and Sweden, suggests that collaborations with scientific partners should be carefully managed, through the development and implementation of managerial mechanisms, in order to foster performance. These managerial mechanisms emerge just as the means (i.e. the mediator) through which the collaboration behavior can foster innovative performance.

International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2012

In this paper, the objective is to explore the relationship between intellectual property and ope... more In this paper, the objective is to explore the relationship between intellectual property and open innovation along the innovation process. The study is based upon a literature analysis and a multiple case study involving three Italian companies which adopted an open approach to innovation. As a result, this paper proposes a framework which explains how different IP protection mechanisms, either legal or strategic, can be exploited to protect technology and know-how in collaborations concerning different phases of the innovation funnel. The framework highlights that the integration between legal and strategic IP tools is necessary to increase protection. However, the use of such tools becomes effective only when grounded on a set of managerial and organisational interventions concerning the management of human resources and of internal flows of knowledge and information. This paper also sheds some light on the role of IP protection mechanisms as enablers/facilitators/limiting factors for companies who want to open their innovation process to external partners.

European Journal of Innovation Management, 2009

Purpose -This paper aims to study the problem of designing a Performance Measurement System (PMS)... more Purpose -This paper aims to study the problem of designing a Performance Measurement System (PMS) for R&D. In particular, it aims at investigating the influence exerted by the type of activity being measured (i.e. Basic and Applied Research or New Product Development) on the design of the PMS constitutive elements. Design/methodology/approach -First, a literature review made it possible to build a theoretical model that identifies the constitutive elements of the PMS for R&D. Second, a survey involving 129 Italian firms (with a response rate of 33 per cent) was performed to unearth a number of similarities and differences between PMSs used in Research and New Product Development settings. Finally, a follow-up multiple case study investigation made it possible to understand the reason underlying the dissimilarities which emerged from the survey. Findings -The analysis suggests that a specialisation of the performance measurement practices in research and development is pursued by the Italian firms in the sample, especially when a number of conditions are in place (e.g. high level of uncertainty in R&D, availability of resources, organisational separation between the research and development functions).

Project Management Journal, 2007

International Journal of Innovation Management, 2009

Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2008

... In a few words, the suggested framework gives a “practical” guide that should help managers i... more ... In a few words, the suggested framework gives a “practical” guide that should help managers in the definition of all the elements of a PMS, in accordance with the overall company's strategy. Then, the framework is applied to a specific case study, with the aim of: 1. verifying the ...

Measurement, 2009

ABSTRACT Measurement in soft systems generally cannot exploit physical sensors as data acquisitio... more ABSTRACT Measurement in soft systems generally cannot exploit physical sensors as data acquisition devices. The emphasis in this case is instead on how to choose the appropriate indicators and to combine their values so to obtain an overall result, interpreted as the value of a property, i.e., the measurand, for the system under analysis. This paper aims at discussing the epistemological conditions of the claim that such a process is a measurement, and performance evaluation is the case introduced to support the analysis, performed in systematic comparison with the paradigm of measurement of physical quantities. Some background questions arising here are:–Are the chosen indicators appropriate performance indicators?–Do such indicators convey complete and non-redundant information on performance?–Does the chosen combination rule generate results suitably interpretable as performance values?And enlarging the focus:–Does the obtained value specifically convey information on the system under analysis, instead of some different entity (typically including the subject who is evaluating)? Operatively: would different subjects evaluate the same system in the same way? i.e., is the obtained information objective?–Does the obtained value convey information that is interpretable in the same way by different subjects? Operatively: would different subjects who have agreed on a decision procedure make the same decision from the same performance information? i.e., is the obtained information intersubjective?Any well founded positive answers to these questions significantly support a structural interpretation of measurement encompassing both physical and soft measurement.

R&D Management, 2009

Measuring research and development (R&D) performance has become a fundamental concern for R&D man... more Measuring research and development (R&D) performance has become a fundamental concern for R&D managers and executives in the last decades. As a result, the issue has been extensively debated in innovation and R&D management literature. The paper contributes to this growing body of knowledge, adopting a systemic and contextual perspective to look into the problem of measuring R&D performance. In particular, it explores the interplay between measurement objectives, performance dimensions and contextual factors in the design of a performance measurement system (PMS) for R&D activities. The paper relies on a multiple case study analysis that involved 15 Italian technology-intensive firms. The results indicate that firms measure R&D performance with different purposes, i.e. motivate researchers and engineers, monitor the progress of activities, evaluate the profitability of R&D projects, favour coordination and communication and stimulate organisational learning. These objectives are pursued in clusters, and the importance firms attach to each cluster is influenced by the context (type of R&D, industry belonging, size) in which measurement takes place. Furthermore, a firm's choice to measure R&D performance along a particular perspective (i.e. financial, customer, business processes or innovation and learning) is influenced by the classes of objectives (diagnostic, motivational or interactive) that are given higher priority. The implications of these results for R&D managers and scholars are discussed in the paper.

Measuring Business Excellence, 2015

Opening the innovation process represents a new opportunity for SMEs to increase the internal inn... more Opening the innovation process represents a new opportunity for SMEs to increase the internal innovative capacity and to raise their overall innovation performances. Until today, open innovation in SMEs has been poorly studied, as certified by the high number of papers presenting case studies in large and multinational firms. This paper is aimed at adding a new step in the knowledge about the constraints and barriers that hinders SMEs in the adoption of open innovation practices. Based on preliminary results from a web-based survey realized in Italy, this study reveals how communication skills, internal resources availability, intellectual property management capabilities and trust among partners are the main elements that obstruct the SMEs in the acquisition and use of externally generated knowledge, and that the role played by intermediaries in innovation is still not good enough to help SMEs in the adoption of open innovation approaches.

Literature suggests that family firms are characterized by specific values and resources (i.e. ri... more Literature suggests that family firms are characterized by specific values and resources (i.e. risk aversion; family identity and SEW preservation; limited cognitive resources; social capital) and that these values/resources exert a role in shaping family firms’ behaviour also as concerns strategic partnering. However, literature recognizes also that family firms are not all alike and thusthese values and resources can assume different connotations also among the family firms. We aim to focus on different types of family firms: family firms stricto sensu for which ownership and management overlap (both hold by family members) and managerial family firms for which ownership and management are disjointed and non-family managers are involved in strategic decision-making. Evidences seem consistent in outlining the profile of the managerial family firms with respect to the family firms stricto sensu: they seem to show an innovation strategy more aggressive, more oriented to technology ex...

Management Research News, 2007

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of designing a performance measurem... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of designing a performance measurement system (PMS) for research and development (R&D) activities; in particular, it investigates if and how different objectives for the PMS use influence the design of its constitutive elements. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review was first conducted, aimed at identifying the constitutive elements of

Benchmarking: An International Journal, 2006

ABSTRACT Purpose – The issue investigated in this work is relative to the features of the informa... more ABSTRACT Purpose – The issue investigated in this work is relative to the features of the information sub-systems supporting specific university administrative processes (accountancy, personnel management, student services). This paper attempt: to develop a benchmarking model; and apply the suggested model to a group of Italian universities. Design/methodology/approach – While the literature analysis has been useful to achieve the first goal, the empirical methodology of case studies has been employed for both the objectives. It means that there has been a full commitment of the involved universities also in the theoretical phase of the work. Findings – Two types of specific results are expected through the application of the suggested benchmarking model. The first is the pertinent position of each university in respect with some observed features of the information sub-systems. The second is the identification of possible trends that are widespread within the selected universities. Research limitations/implications – Generalization of the benchmarking trends is not possible, because trends arise from a limited group of universities. Practical implications – The universities involved in the project have discovered the importance of benchmarking as a means of improving their processes and systems. Originality/value – This paper represents a first attempt at developing a model to compare the condition of the administrative information systems in a selected group of Italian universities.

Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, 2014

ABSTRACT The subject of this paper is Open Innovation (OI) in the food and drink industry (FDI). ... more ABSTRACT The subject of this paper is Open Innovation (OI) in the food and drink industry (FDI). Both academics and managers are pushing for improved knowledge in the practice of OI. To this end they have invited researchers to include traditional, low-tech industries in their analyses, since these have been poorly investigated (

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2013

The paper explores the concept of Open Innovation (OI) and evaluates whether, why and how it is a... more The paper explores the concept of Open Innovation (OI) and evaluates whether, why and how it is adopted in the automotive field. The study attempts to enrich the existing empirical evidence because few studies about the topic were conducted. With this aim, we studied the experience of three well-known companies operating at different levels in the value chain of the automotive industry: a final car-producer on one hand; two suppliers (i.e., a designer and a supplier of components) on the other. The underlying idea is that firm-specific strategic goals as well as external factors (i.e., environmental/industry features) can affect (i.e., explaining whether and why) the adoption of OI approaches and that openness can lead to some advantages despite some obstacles could prevent the achievement of the expected benefits.

European Journal of Innovation Management, 2011

Purpose -Many companies claim they are adopting an open approach to innovation, but each of them ... more Purpose -Many companies claim they are adopting an open approach to innovation, but each of them with its own way. This paper aims to explore the different models for opening up the innovation process adopted in practice. Design/methodology/approach -The paper employs an extended survey among Italian manufacturing companies; cluster analysis; and ANOVA. Findings -The study distinguishes four different open innovation models with respect to two variables, representing the degree of openness: the number and type of partners with whom the company collaborates (partner variety) and the number and type of phases of the innovation process actually open to external collaborations (innovation phase variety). They are: open innovators, closed innovators, integrated collaborators and specialised collaborators. The paper describes each cluster in terms of firm-specific variables that characterize and support open innovation choices; finally, it tries to draw some tentative explanation of the influence of openness on the innovative performance of companies.

2008 IEEE International Engineering Management Conference, 2008

From the recent studies about open innovation paradigm, it emerges that the choice of the governa... more From the recent studies about open innovation paradigm, it emerges that the choice of the governance mode "right" to cooperate is still an interesting topic. Theoretical frameworks about the topic are available, suggesting the need for coherence among a series of factors and the governance mode to be selected. However, applications on concrete cases are still scarce, above all as concerns small companies. This empirical work aims at increasing this area of knowledge by describing the practical experience of a small company which had to choose the governance mode in order to organize and manage a New Product Development network. The first inconsistency between factors and form of government chosen leads to failure of the network. The next consistency turns failure into success, and this makes the case an interesting example of how to build an external innovation network. Moreover, peculiarities of small businesses emerge. In particular, has shown that some highly integrated governance modes, even if they could be the "ideal choice", are not really feasible for small companies. Strong planning, control and formalization can anyway serve the scope of reinforcing the governance mode in terms of integration and commitment.

International Journal of Innovation Management, 2006

Although theoretical approaches to research and development (R&D) performance measurement are wid... more Although theoretical approaches to research and development (R&D) performance measurement are widespread, empirical investigations into the application of these theories are far less diffused. Therefore, we started a research project aimed at studying the R&D performance measurement practices adopted by Italian technology-intensive firms. This paper discusses the earliest empirical results of the project; it deeply investigates the experience of an Italian contract research organisation in designing a system of performance measures for its research activities.

International Journal of Innovation Management, 2009

Starting from the several conceptual and empirical studies about open innovation modes, this pape... more Starting from the several conceptual and empirical studies about open innovation modes, this paper attempts to integrate them by suggesting a framework which reveals four basic ways to collaborate. Two variables are considered that represent the degree of openness for a company: (i) the number/type of partners with which the company collaborates, briefly labelled as "partner variety"; (ii) the number/type of phases of the innovation process that the company opens to external contributions, briefly labelled as "innovation funnel openness". By crossing these two variables, four basic modes of open innovation are identified: closed innovators, open innovators, specialized collaborators and integrated collaborators. The framework shows its practical validity in an empirical study that is conducted in Italy with the specific aim at verifying whether companies can really be mapped using this framework, i.e. whether the four modes of open innovation can be found in real companies (framework applicability); whether different modes correspond to different companies' strategies, capabilities, organisational and managerial processes (framework explicative power and usefulness). The framework shows that, in some cases, being totally open in innovation activities is not the only and most suitable option, but that different degrees and ways of "openness" can be implemented successfully, as well as the totally closed option.

International Journal of Technology Management, 2014

This paper considers open innovation strategies in the food and drink industry and seeks to exami... more This paper considers open innovation strategies in the food and drink industry and seeks to examine the determinants of openness and the impact of open behaviours by companies on innovation performance. The study clusters food and drink companies in terms of their degree of openness measured across two dimensions, namely, collaboration breadth (broad to narrow collaboration ecosystem) and collaboration depth (deeper to surface collaboration). Findings show that food and drink companies can be clustered into three open innovation modes in terms of their search strategy for external knowledge ranging from limited collaboration with traditional partners to a broad and deep openness approach with a wide spectrum of external sources. Technology pressures emerge as a key driver for greater openness. Significantly, greater openness leads to enhanced innovation performance; however, it requires a dedicated architecture for collaboration to access and leverage external knowledge. focuses on new product development and innovation management, in particular how SMEs use consumer insights to enhance their innovation performance. She has published numerous articles on the transition from closed to open innovation and the organisational and managerial challenges companies face to accommodate a more externally orientated mindset. Currently, she is working with companies to develop superior value propositions relevant to their target market by working collaboratively with customers and suppliers. She also acts as a reviewer for various technology management academic journals and has recently published a book on open innovation in the food and beverage industry.

Open innovation literature suggests that firms can improve their innovation performance by learni... more Open innovation literature suggests that firms can improve their innovation performance by learning from different actors and, among them, universities, research institutes and innovation intermediaries can play a relevant role. However, the success of such collaborations is still debated. In particular, the firms’ internal organizational context seems to be crucial to explain the success or failure of open innovation: firms attempting to leverage partners’ knowledge must design an appropriate internal organization, made of organizational practices and managerial mechanisms. Despite this assumption, the role of the firm’s internal context in fostering the success of open innovation is poorly investigated, in particular in the case of scientific partners (such as universities and research centers). Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the relations among: collaboration behavior between a firm and scientific partners, managerial mechanisms and both sides of innovative performance (i.e. novelty and efficiency). Our study, based upon a survey research developed in Finland, Italy and Sweden, suggests that collaborations with scientific partners should be carefully managed, through the development and implementation of managerial mechanisms, in order to foster performance. These managerial mechanisms emerge just as the means (i.e. the mediator) through which the collaboration behavior can foster innovative performance.

International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2012

In this paper, the objective is to explore the relationship between intellectual property and ope... more In this paper, the objective is to explore the relationship between intellectual property and open innovation along the innovation process. The study is based upon a literature analysis and a multiple case study involving three Italian companies which adopted an open approach to innovation. As a result, this paper proposes a framework which explains how different IP protection mechanisms, either legal or strategic, can be exploited to protect technology and know-how in collaborations concerning different phases of the innovation funnel. The framework highlights that the integration between legal and strategic IP tools is necessary to increase protection. However, the use of such tools becomes effective only when grounded on a set of managerial and organisational interventions concerning the management of human resources and of internal flows of knowledge and information. This paper also sheds some light on the role of IP protection mechanisms as enablers/facilitators/limiting factors for companies who want to open their innovation process to external partners.

European Journal of Innovation Management, 2009

Purpose -This paper aims to study the problem of designing a Performance Measurement System (PMS)... more Purpose -This paper aims to study the problem of designing a Performance Measurement System (PMS) for R&D. In particular, it aims at investigating the influence exerted by the type of activity being measured (i.e. Basic and Applied Research or New Product Development) on the design of the PMS constitutive elements. Design/methodology/approach -First, a literature review made it possible to build a theoretical model that identifies the constitutive elements of the PMS for R&D. Second, a survey involving 129 Italian firms (with a response rate of 33 per cent) was performed to unearth a number of similarities and differences between PMSs used in Research and New Product Development settings. Finally, a follow-up multiple case study investigation made it possible to understand the reason underlying the dissimilarities which emerged from the survey. Findings -The analysis suggests that a specialisation of the performance measurement practices in research and development is pursued by the Italian firms in the sample, especially when a number of conditions are in place (e.g. high level of uncertainty in R&D, availability of resources, organisational separation between the research and development functions).

Project Management Journal, 2007

International Journal of Innovation Management, 2009

Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2008

... In a few words, the suggested framework gives a “practical” guide that should help managers i... more ... In a few words, the suggested framework gives a “practical” guide that should help managers in the definition of all the elements of a PMS, in accordance with the overall company's strategy. Then, the framework is applied to a specific case study, with the aim of: 1. verifying the ...

Measurement, 2009

ABSTRACT Measurement in soft systems generally cannot exploit physical sensors as data acquisitio... more ABSTRACT Measurement in soft systems generally cannot exploit physical sensors as data acquisition devices. The emphasis in this case is instead on how to choose the appropriate indicators and to combine their values so to obtain an overall result, interpreted as the value of a property, i.e., the measurand, for the system under analysis. This paper aims at discussing the epistemological conditions of the claim that such a process is a measurement, and performance evaluation is the case introduced to support the analysis, performed in systematic comparison with the paradigm of measurement of physical quantities. Some background questions arising here are:–Are the chosen indicators appropriate performance indicators?–Do such indicators convey complete and non-redundant information on performance?–Does the chosen combination rule generate results suitably interpretable as performance values?And enlarging the focus:–Does the obtained value specifically convey information on the system under analysis, instead of some different entity (typically including the subject who is evaluating)? Operatively: would different subjects evaluate the same system in the same way? i.e., is the obtained information objective?–Does the obtained value convey information that is interpretable in the same way by different subjects? Operatively: would different subjects who have agreed on a decision procedure make the same decision from the same performance information? i.e., is the obtained information intersubjective?Any well founded positive answers to these questions significantly support a structural interpretation of measurement encompassing both physical and soft measurement.

R&D Management, 2009

Measuring research and development (R&D) performance has become a fundamental concern for R&D man... more Measuring research and development (R&D) performance has become a fundamental concern for R&D managers and executives in the last decades. As a result, the issue has been extensively debated in innovation and R&D management literature. The paper contributes to this growing body of knowledge, adopting a systemic and contextual perspective to look into the problem of measuring R&D performance. In particular, it explores the interplay between measurement objectives, performance dimensions and contextual factors in the design of a performance measurement system (PMS) for R&D activities. The paper relies on a multiple case study analysis that involved 15 Italian technology-intensive firms. The results indicate that firms measure R&D performance with different purposes, i.e. motivate researchers and engineers, monitor the progress of activities, evaluate the profitability of R&D projects, favour coordination and communication and stimulate organisational learning. These objectives are pursued in clusters, and the importance firms attach to each cluster is influenced by the context (type of R&D, industry belonging, size) in which measurement takes place. Furthermore, a firm's choice to measure R&D performance along a particular perspective (i.e. financial, customer, business processes or innovation and learning) is influenced by the classes of objectives (diagnostic, motivational or interactive) that are given higher priority. The implications of these results for R&D managers and scholars are discussed in the paper.

Measuring Business Excellence, 2015

Opening the innovation process represents a new opportunity for SMEs to increase the internal inn... more Opening the innovation process represents a new opportunity for SMEs to increase the internal innovative capacity and to raise their overall innovation performances. Until today, open innovation in SMEs has been poorly studied, as certified by the high number of papers presenting case studies in large and multinational firms. This paper is aimed at adding a new step in the knowledge about the constraints and barriers that hinders SMEs in the adoption of open innovation practices. Based on preliminary results from a web-based survey realized in Italy, this study reveals how communication skills, internal resources availability, intellectual property management capabilities and trust among partners are the main elements that obstruct the SMEs in the acquisition and use of externally generated knowledge, and that the role played by intermediaries in innovation is still not good enough to help SMEs in the adoption of open innovation approaches.

Literature suggests that family firms are characterized by specific values and resources (i.e. ri... more Literature suggests that family firms are characterized by specific values and resources (i.e. risk aversion; family identity and SEW preservation; limited cognitive resources; social capital) and that these values/resources exert a role in shaping family firms’ behaviour also as concerns strategic partnering. However, literature recognizes also that family firms are not all alike and thusthese values and resources can assume different connotations also among the family firms. We aim to focus on different types of family firms: family firms stricto sensu for which ownership and management overlap (both hold by family members) and managerial family firms for which ownership and management are disjointed and non-family managers are involved in strategic decision-making. Evidences seem consistent in outlining the profile of the managerial family firms with respect to the family firms stricto sensu: they seem to show an innovation strategy more aggressive, more oriented to technology ex...

Management Research News, 2007

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of designing a performance measurem... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of designing a performance measurement system (PMS) for research and development (R&D) activities; in particular, it investigates if and how different objectives for the PMS use influence the design of its constitutive elements. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review was first conducted, aimed at identifying the constitutive elements of

Benchmarking: An International Journal, 2006

ABSTRACT Purpose – The issue investigated in this work is relative to the features of the informa... more ABSTRACT Purpose – The issue investigated in this work is relative to the features of the information sub-systems supporting specific university administrative processes (accountancy, personnel management, student services). This paper attempt: to develop a benchmarking model; and apply the suggested model to a group of Italian universities. Design/methodology/approach – While the literature analysis has been useful to achieve the first goal, the empirical methodology of case studies has been employed for both the objectives. It means that there has been a full commitment of the involved universities also in the theoretical phase of the work. Findings – Two types of specific results are expected through the application of the suggested benchmarking model. The first is the pertinent position of each university in respect with some observed features of the information sub-systems. The second is the identification of possible trends that are widespread within the selected universities. Research limitations/implications – Generalization of the benchmarking trends is not possible, because trends arise from a limited group of universities. Practical implications – The universities involved in the project have discovered the importance of benchmarking as a means of improving their processes and systems. Originality/value – This paper represents a first attempt at developing a model to compare the condition of the administrative information systems in a selected group of Italian universities.

Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, 2014

ABSTRACT The subject of this paper is Open Innovation (OI) in the food and drink industry (FDI). ... more ABSTRACT The subject of this paper is Open Innovation (OI) in the food and drink industry (FDI). Both academics and managers are pushing for improved knowledge in the practice of OI. To this end they have invited researchers to include traditional, low-tech industries in their analyses, since these have been poorly investigated (

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2013

The paper explores the concept of Open Innovation (OI) and evaluates whether, why and how it is a... more The paper explores the concept of Open Innovation (OI) and evaluates whether, why and how it is adopted in the automotive field. The study attempts to enrich the existing empirical evidence because few studies about the topic were conducted. With this aim, we studied the experience of three well-known companies operating at different levels in the value chain of the automotive industry: a final car-producer on one hand; two suppliers (i.e., a designer and a supplier of components) on the other. The underlying idea is that firm-specific strategic goals as well as external factors (i.e., environmental/industry features) can affect (i.e., explaining whether and why) the adoption of OI approaches and that openness can lead to some advantages despite some obstacles could prevent the achievement of the expected benefits.

European Journal of Innovation Management, 2011

Purpose -Many companies claim they are adopting an open approach to innovation, but each of them ... more Purpose -Many companies claim they are adopting an open approach to innovation, but each of them with its own way. This paper aims to explore the different models for opening up the innovation process adopted in practice. Design/methodology/approach -The paper employs an extended survey among Italian manufacturing companies; cluster analysis; and ANOVA. Findings -The study distinguishes four different open innovation models with respect to two variables, representing the degree of openness: the number and type of partners with whom the company collaborates (partner variety) and the number and type of phases of the innovation process actually open to external collaborations (innovation phase variety). They are: open innovators, closed innovators, integrated collaborators and specialised collaborators. The paper describes each cluster in terms of firm-specific variables that characterize and support open innovation choices; finally, it tries to draw some tentative explanation of the influence of openness on the innovative performance of companies.

2008 IEEE International Engineering Management Conference, 2008

From the recent studies about open innovation paradigm, it emerges that the choice of the governa... more From the recent studies about open innovation paradigm, it emerges that the choice of the governance mode "right" to cooperate is still an interesting topic. Theoretical frameworks about the topic are available, suggesting the need for coherence among a series of factors and the governance mode to be selected. However, applications on concrete cases are still scarce, above all as concerns small companies. This empirical work aims at increasing this area of knowledge by describing the practical experience of a small company which had to choose the governance mode in order to organize and manage a New Product Development network. The first inconsistency between factors and form of government chosen leads to failure of the network. The next consistency turns failure into success, and this makes the case an interesting example of how to build an external innovation network. Moreover, peculiarities of small businesses emerge. In particular, has shown that some highly integrated governance modes, even if they could be the "ideal choice", are not really feasible for small companies. Strong planning, control and formalization can anyway serve the scope of reinforcing the governance mode in terms of integration and commitment.

International Journal of Innovation Management, 2006

Although theoretical approaches to research and development (R&D) performance measurement are wid... more Although theoretical approaches to research and development (R&D) performance measurement are widespread, empirical investigations into the application of these theories are far less diffused. Therefore, we started a research project aimed at studying the R&D performance measurement practices adopted by Italian technology-intensive firms. This paper discusses the earliest empirical results of the project; it deeply investigates the experience of an Italian contract research organisation in designing a system of performance measures for its research activities.

International Journal of Innovation Management, 2009

Starting from the several conceptual and empirical studies about open innovation modes, this pape... more Starting from the several conceptual and empirical studies about open innovation modes, this paper attempts to integrate them by suggesting a framework which reveals four basic ways to collaborate. Two variables are considered that represent the degree of openness for a company: (i) the number/type of partners with which the company collaborates, briefly labelled as "partner variety"; (ii) the number/type of phases of the innovation process that the company opens to external contributions, briefly labelled as "innovation funnel openness". By crossing these two variables, four basic modes of open innovation are identified: closed innovators, open innovators, specialized collaborators and integrated collaborators. The framework shows its practical validity in an empirical study that is conducted in Italy with the specific aim at verifying whether companies can really be mapped using this framework, i.e. whether the four modes of open innovation can be found in real companies (framework applicability); whether different modes correspond to different companies' strategies, capabilities, organisational and managerial processes (framework explicative power and usefulness). The framework shows that, in some cases, being totally open in innovation activities is not the only and most suitable option, but that different degrees and ways of "openness" can be implemented successfully, as well as the totally closed option.

International Journal of Technology Management, 2014

This paper considers open innovation strategies in the food and drink industry and seeks to exami... more This paper considers open innovation strategies in the food and drink industry and seeks to examine the determinants of openness and the impact of open behaviours by companies on innovation performance. The study clusters food and drink companies in terms of their degree of openness measured across two dimensions, namely, collaboration breadth (broad to narrow collaboration ecosystem) and collaboration depth (deeper to surface collaboration). Findings show that food and drink companies can be clustered into three open innovation modes in terms of their search strategy for external knowledge ranging from limited collaboration with traditional partners to a broad and deep openness approach with a wide spectrum of external sources. Technology pressures emerge as a key driver for greater openness. Significantly, greater openness leads to enhanced innovation performance; however, it requires a dedicated architecture for collaboration to access and leverage external knowledge. focuses on new product development and innovation management, in particular how SMEs use consumer insights to enhance their innovation performance. She has published numerous articles on the transition from closed to open innovation and the organisational and managerial challenges companies face to accommodate a more externally orientated mindset. Currently, she is working with companies to develop superior value propositions relevant to their target market by working collaboratively with customers and suppliers. She also acts as a reviewer for various technology management academic journals and has recently published a book on open innovation in the food and beverage industry.