Open Innovation in R&D Departments: An Analysis of Employees’ Intention to Exchange Knowledge in OI-Projects

Based on interviews with R&D managers and a survey amongst R&D employees, Verena Nedon shows that perceived social pressure has an immense impact on R&D employees working in OI-projects. Employees’ attitude (regardless of whether positive or negative) and perceived behavioral control play an important, but not dominant role. The study also implies that intrinsic motivators have a stronger effect on employees’ willingness to engage in knowledge exchange with external partners than extrinsic components. By targeting a set of relevant questions related to the human side of open innovation, the study significantly contributes to the micro-foundation of OI-research and sheds light on the hitherto neglected perspective of employees engaged in OI-projects. The findings are relevant for scholars, companies already following the OI-approach and OI-newcomers.