WHAT IS OPEN INNOVATION SOFTWARE?

Stefan Hrastinski, Uppsala University

April 2010
WHAT IS OPEN INNOVATION
SOFTWARE?
Stefan Hrastinski, Uppsala University
April 2010
In this article, Dr. Hrastinski explores and categorizes
software platforms for open innovation.
Most open innovation software focus on open idea management.
Despite that it is widely acknowledged
that technologies are of key importance in
open innovation practices (Chesbrough,
2003), little research has studied how
various technologies can be strategically
used to enable and support open
innovation practices (Dodgson, Gann, &
Salter, 2005). For example, Chesbrough
(2003) argues that new technologies can
support open innovation, but do not
explore how, for what reason, and to what
extent different information technologies
can be used when innovation is desired
(Dodgson, et al., 2005).
Drawing on the above, in Hrastinski et al.
(2010), we explored how current open
innovation software (OIS) are designed,
by whom they are used and reflect on their
potential to support open innovation
processes.
The current focus is on idea collection
We classified a sample of 51 systems and
found that most OIS are not very
innovative because they provide similar
features. Typically, users are asked to
describe an idea or the management
specifies a problem to be solved. Then, a
phase that includes problem solving and
evaluation in collaboration follows. In
successful cases, these processes lead or
contribute to an innovation.
Our review reveals that a vast majority of
OIS focuses on the front end of open
innovation through an emphasis on the
collection of ideas or problem solutions
requested by the management of
technology industries.
Four types of open innovation software
When scrutinizing the reviewed OIS, few
attempted to take a step towards OIS that
support more than the collection of ideas.
Drawing on the reviewed software, we
suggest a classification, which includes
four types of OIS. The four types of OIS
can be used by organizations to reflect on
how they are using IT to support open
innovation, and most importantly, how
they could use IT to support open
innovation in new and innovative ways in
the future.
Type Description
Idea Lets users suggest, evaluate and
management discuss ideas openly or within
software predefined categories
Problem Provides opportunities for defining
solving problems and then suggesting,
software evaluating and discussing solutions
Innovation Asks users to suggest solutions to
marketplace problems defined by an organization,
and use rewards and recognition as an
incentive
Innovation Provides sophisticated tools for
analysis evaluating and analyzing the quality
software and potential of ideas and solutions
 WHAT IS OPEN INNOVATION SOFTWARE?
Stefan Hrastinski, Uppsala University
Stefan Hrastinski is a Research Fellow and Director of Master Studies at the Department of
Information Science, Uppsala University, Sweden. He received his PhD in Informatics from Lund
University in 2007. Stefan’s research interests include open innovation, and collaborative learning
and work. He is associated with the Swedish IT-User Centre and the Research School of Management
and IT.

Further reading

Chesbrough, H. (2003). The open innovation paradigm. In H. Chesbrough (Ed.), Open

innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology (pp. 43-62).
Harvard Business School Press.

Dodgson, M., Gann, D., & Salter, A. (2005). Think, play, do: Technology, innovation, and
organization. Oxford University Press.

Hrastinski, S., Kviselius, N., Ozan, H., & Edenius, M. (2010). A review of technologies for
open innovation: Characteristics and future trends. Paper presented at the 43rd Hawaii
International Conference on System Sciences.

Open Innovation
From the Open Innovation Forum’s perspective open innovation involves all aspects of
creating new business opportunities by engaging end-users in co-creative activities. Web
2.0 technologies has caused electronic collaboration to evolve, hence paving the way for
companies to invite customers and employees to be involved in the refinement of their
offerings. Ideally open innovation will create win-win situations where users get services
that are more oriented to their needs and organizations will offer services that are more
desired by the market.

The Open Innovation Forum

The Open Innovation Forum aims at being a knowledge hub and rallying point for user-
oriented open innovation, where innovation experts and researchers can collaborate on
improving theories and practices, while open innovation novices are invited to follow, or
take active part, in the development of the area.

www.openinnovationforum.com
1
The content in this article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribute 3.0 License, which allows the material
to freely be copied, distributed, transmitted and remixed as long as the work is attributed to the original authors.