Introduction: The introduction aims to provide a background to the case company, what Open Innovation (OI) is and how the concept is used in producing companies that are large and SME, as well as a brief description of what a fixture can look like. Purpose and issues: The purpose and goal of this study is to develop a permanent fixture for milling machines that will cut different articles into different lengths to save time and money. Since the case company uses this study as an OI strategy, the purpose is also to investigate why producing companies use OI in the development of products and what risks it may entail.Based on the purpose of the study, two questions were formulated: RQ1: What are the main reasons that producing companies use OI in their product development process and what risks may occur using OI? RQ2: Can a generic product development process, if possible, be applied when developing a fixture for milling machines through OI? In such case, what steps are applicable in this study? Approach and method: A case study was performed at a company and data was collected through literature studies, observations, and semi- and unstructured interviews. The literature study was collected to link the collected theoretical data with the results and was taken from books and scientific articles. The product development process was performed by following the theoretical frame of reference. Results: The respondents use OI for external input to develop the technology and utilize external knowledge. The concept is used to make the innovation process progress. The respondents have experienced positive results from using OI, but it has also entailed certain risks. Students are often used as an OI strategy to carry out student thesis and projects at companies.A fixture was developed following a generic product development process and a 3D CAD model of the product solution was developed. The phases product planning, concept development, development at system level and detailed development were completed to develop a solution to the problem that the case company experienced. Conclusions: The conclusions that can be drawn in this study are that OI is recommended to be used in producing companies to continue to develop even though it may involve risks.A fixture was created based on the requirements and goal specifications that the case company had, with a solution to the problem that existed. The fixture that was developed can be manufactured economically and practically and can save the fall company time and money. Keywords: Open Innovation, Open Innovation risks, reasons for Open Innovation, SME Open Innovation, large companies Open Innovation, product development, concept development, product design, concept design, fixture design, product development process. / Introduktion: Introduktionen syftar till att ge en bakgrund till fallföretaget, vad Open Innovation (OI) är och hur konceptet används i producerande företag som är stora och SME, samt en kort beskrivning av hur en fixtur kan se ut. Syfte och frågeställningar: Syftet och målet med denna studie är att utveckla en permanent fixtur till fräsmaskiner som ska skära olika artiklar i olika längder för att spara tid och pengar. Eftersom fallföretaget använder denna studie som en OI-strategi är syftet även att undersöka varför producerande företag använder OI vid utvecklingsarbeten och vilka risker det kan medföra. Utifrån studiens syfte formulerades två frågeställningar: FF1: Vilka är de främsta orsakerna till att producerande företag använder OI i deras produktutvecklingsprocess och vilka risker kan förekomma genom användning av OI? FF2: Kan en generisk produktutvecklingsprocess om möjligt tillämpas vid framtagning av en fixtur till fräsmaskinergenom OI? Vilka steg är i sådana fall tillämpbara i denna studie? Ansats och metod: En fallstudie utfördes på ett företag och data samlades in genom litteraturstudier, observationer, samt semi-och ostrukturerade intervjuer. Litteraturstudien samlades in för att kunna koppla den insamlade teoretiska data med resultatet, och hämtades från böcker och vetenskapliga artiklar. Produktutvecklingsprocessen utfördes genom att följa den teoretiska referensramen. Resultat: Respondenterna använder OI för extern input för att utveckla tekniken och utnyttja extern kunskap. Konceptet används för att få innovationsprocessen att fortskrida. Respondenterna har upplevt positiva resultat av att använda OI, men det har även medfört vissa risker. Studenter används ofta som en OI-strategi för att utföra studentarbeten och projekt hos företag. En fixtur utvecklades genom att följa en generisk produktutvecklingsprocess och en 3D CAD-modell av produktlösningen utvecklades. Faserna produktplanering, konceptutveckling, utveckling på systemnivå och detaljutveckling fullföljdes för att ta fram en lösning till problemet som fallföretaget upplevde. Slutsatser: Slutsatserna som kan dras i denna studie äratt OI rekommenderas att användas i producerandeföretag för att fortsätta utvecklas även fast det kan medföra risker. En fixtur skapades utifrån de krav-och målspecifikationerna som fallföretaget hade, med en lösning till problemet som fanns. Fixturen som utvecklades kan tillverkas ekonomiskt och praktiskt och kan bespara fallföretaget tid och pengar.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to extract and provide practical knowledge and examples from both theory and practice in order to clarify some practices that can be used in the implementation of open innovation. It can be of interest for whomever willing to gain an insight into the practical features of open innovation and for companies considering, or struggling with the implementation of open innovation.</p><p>The study was approached with a qualitative and interpretive method. Secondary sources were used exclusively to review the practical aspects of open innovation in theory and practice. Open innovation practice at Nokia Corp. and the Procter & Gamble Company were researched and reported using studies of other authors as well as the companies’ own publications.</p><p>The classification of open innovation practices in contemporary literature is not sufficient to provide an understanding for the various types of open innovation practices that can be applied and used in practice. A classification based on types of activities is presented by the authors, and practical suggestions regarding design and implementation concludes the thesis.</p>

The purpose of this thesis is to extract and provide practical knowledge and examples from both theory and practice in order to clarify some practices that can be used in the implementation of open innovation. It can be of interest for whomever willing to gain an insight into the practical features of open innovation and for companies considering, or struggling with the implementation of open innovation. The study was approached with a qualitative and interpretive method. Secondary sources were used exclusively to review the practical aspects of open innovation in theory and practice. Open innovation practice at Nokia Corp. and the Procter &amp; Gamble Company were researched and reported using studies of other authors as well as the companies’ own publications. The classification of open innovation practices in contemporary literature is not sufficient to provide an understanding for the various types of open innovation practices that can be applied and used in practice. A classification based on types of activities is presented by the authors, and practical suggestions regarding design and implementation concludes the thesis.

El objetivo del estudio fue explicar el estado del arte en sus diferentes posturas, las mismas que guardan relación con la implementación de la innovación abierta en las pymes. Numerosas investigaciones afirman que las prácticas de innovación abierta, ya es una tendencia, de modo que, es imperativo que las pymes no solo hagan uso esta implementación, sino que, por ser numerosas en el país, motiven al crecimiento empresarial. La presente investigación contempla las diversas posturas de innovación con estudios realizados desde el 2014 hacia el presente. Asimismo, la investigación muestra resultados beneficiosos en un cierto porcentaje de pymes, siendo estas contrarias para otros investigadores, donde muestran resultados no favorables y contrapuestos. Consecuentemente, ya que existe una controversia en la implementación de la innovación abierta para las pymes, no existe un protocolo establecido para implementar la innovación abierta en una organización, de modo que, da lugar a que otras empresas puedan imitar o improvisar procesos de adopción de empresas. / The objective of the study was to explain the state of the art in its different positions, which are related to the implementation of open innovation in SMEs. Numerous researches affirms that open innovation practices are already a trend, so it is imperative that SMEs not only make use of this implementation, but because they are numerous in the country, they motivate business growth. The present investigation contemplates the diverse positions of innovation with studies realized from the 2014 towards the present. Likewise, the research shows beneficial results in a certain percentage of SMEs, these being contrary to other researchers, where they show unfavorable and conflicting results. Consequently, since there is a controversy in the implementation of open innovation for SMEs, there is no established protocol to implement open innovation in an organization, so that it results in other companies being able to imitate or improvise processes of adoption of Business.

There are many existing programs and initiatives in Uganda supporting small businesses, but tend to suffer from a number of weaknesses. In particular typically small businesses find it difficult to do research and development; commercialize their results in markets (innovation) as fast as they should. For micro, small &amp; medium enterprises to be dully competitive in a competitive economic environment requires that they develop internal capabilities to effectively assimilate, use and adapt product and process technologies for their businesses to survive on an ongoing basis. To overcome this drawback, the concept of Business Incubation has been proposed. This concept has gained large interest in the research community. The key idea is to create and nurture new businesses for growth by providing services and infrastructure required by utilizing the external knowledge sources (open innovation) and triple-helix model which assist formation of business and industrial clusters. A business incubator is an organization that supports the creation and growth of new businesses by providing services and infrastructure that is required by the targeted clients. Given that most firms in developing countries start too small to compete especially in international markets, a pre-requisite to industrial development, governments and policy makers should give particular attention to the constraints and needs of MSMEs. This can be done by adopting a mix of policies and framework conditions to reduce on the obstacles that hamper technological innovation, collaboration and business growth. In particular is access to finance and enhancing technology and business capacity development through training, linkages and networks. This Licentiate thesis discusses and reviews the initiatives and programs aimed at supporting the development of MSMEs with a view to stimulate industrial development in Uganda. The main aim of this research is to examine the process of business incubation and explain the contribution of open innovation business incubators to entrepreneurs/ start-up firms within the broader context of developing entrepreneurship, promoting science, technology and innovation and creating employment. This research focuses on the roles and relationships of government, university and research institutions and the private sector as sources of knowledge for technological innovations. Literature review, theory understanding, and participatory methods including group discussions with questionnaires, meetings and interviews, were used to achieve the objectives. From the findings, it was revealed among MSMEs that due to their sizes, limited managerial and technological skills, and inadequate functional business support services have had adverse effects on their upgrading and growth. There was little linkage and follow up between industry and other public research sectors i.e. government agencies and higher institutions although there are quite a number of support institutions with poor coordination. The research analyzed a wide range of issues that are related to the desired structural transformation of the Ugandan economy towards industrialization process. Finally it will propose strategies for the most appropriate model for Uganda.

No description available.

Background: 20% of the world's population is responsible for about 80% of the life-cycle impacts of consumption and the per-capita footprint of developed countries is at least double than that of developing countries. This is why there is an urgent need for companies in industrialized countries to find more sustainable production methods and encourage sustainable consumption. Global sustainability trends drive innovation, which is why it is important to study how companies use, and can use, innovation to be more sustainable. Despite the will to work sustainably innovative, many SMEs today face resource constraints that hinder them from doing so - a problem that in part can be mitigated by open innovation. In Sweden today, however, open innovation is not widely used, especially not amongst SMEs. Purpose: This study aims at mapping how Swedish SMEs currently work with open innovation in order to promote innovative sustainability initiatives, and how they could do it. Methodology: This is a qualitative multiple case study in which seven cases have been studied and compared. The study is based on the hermeneutic philosophical standpoint, with an abductive approach. The empirical data consists of seven semi-structured interviews with representatives from seven different Swedish SMEs, from different industrial sectors. Conclusion: This study concludes that Swedish SMEs mainly work with inbound open innovation in the form of sourcing information from customers and/or suppliers. It is also found that outbound open innovation is used to a lesser extent among the studied SMEs. The study proposes that more cross-sectoral collaboration can be beneficial. Furthermore, it is established that clearer methods for, and more knowledge about, open innovation could increase the use of it, and thus the benefits of it.

<p>This thesis presents how and if open innovation software (OIS) supports different types of creativity. The relevant theories and information on how an OIS is designed and, the relevant theories of creativity are used for making a model to test on different OIS.</p><p>The result shows that most OIS functionality supported the structuralist and situationalist school of creativity but it also shows that the inspirationalist school was poorly supported in the current functionality. With the result we discuss the implications of supporting all types of creativity to support the most of the users and in the end enable more innovations.</p>

This thesis presents how and if open innovation software (OIS) supports different types of creativity. The relevant theories and information on how an OIS is designed and, the relevant theories of creativity are used for making a model to test on different OIS. The result shows that most OIS functionality supported the structuralist and situationalist school of creativity but it also shows that the inspirationalist school was poorly supported in the current functionality. With the result we discuss the implications of supporting all types of creativity to support the most of the users and in the end enable more innovations.

Purpose: The study that has been conducted is a comparative one, where the group compared different innovation management strategies used by three different globally- known Swedish firms that are in the manufacturing industry. The study is aimed at describing, analyzing and making conclusions of the innovation strategies used during the process of product development in the chosen companies bycomparing their similarities and differences. Method: The Study was carried out using a comparative study drawing on the qualitative data. Conclusion: Volvo CE and ABB CRC have similar strategies in internal idea generation because both firms have formalized systems, by using strong online data bases for idea sharing and evaluation. Volvo CE uses a pronounced forum called “Innovation Jams” for online idea sharing among Volvo Group employees whereas ABB CRC uses a strong data base called “ABB Inside” to evaluate ideas within the group. On the other hand, Scania R&amp;D’s internal idea generation process is more informal as it is based on “person-to-person”. When it comes to external idea generation, Scania R&amp;D has a more established strategy of using suppliers and customers for inspiration of ideas. However, ABB CRC generates inspirations from customers through its business centers, whereas Volvo CE has no customer system in place. But one thing that is common in all the three companies is that they are highly collaborating with universities for idea generation and human resource.