<p>Over the last few decades trends such as globalization have sharpened up competition on the worldwide open market and in order to meet customers demand high level of technological and competitive uncertainties have increased the pressure of reducing R&D budgets, reduce innovation cycles and shorter time to market as a consequence of the rising competition and as a result, forced companies to source external knowledge. One way of doing this is by tapping external information and knowledge from universities.China is a country with a steady rapid growth on science and technology, but also with a progressively increasing R&D. Today they have the highest input level in the history and this is an opportunity for Western MNCs to establish collaborations in order to gain competitive advantages and create new technology. This study focuses on Industry-University collaborations in China for high technological companies and the process of finding knowledge and establishes networks at Chinese universities with the aim of establish Industry-University collaboration. Based on literature review and a qualitative study of Chinese universities, this thesis explores how a MNC can build a network of local universities connection in a fast growing market and use this network as a source of technology scouting.Over the last few decades trends such as globalization have sharpened up competition on the worldwide open market and in order to meet customers demand high level of technological and competitive uncertainties have increased the pressure of reducing R&D budgets, reduce innovation cycles and shorter time to market as a consequence of the rising competition and as a result, forced companies to source external knowledge. One way of doing this is by tapping external information and knowledge from universities.China is a country with a steady rapid growth on science and technology, but also with a progressively increasing R&D. Today they have the highest input level in the history and this is an opportunity for Western MNCs to establish collaborations in order to gain competitive advantages and create new technology. This study focuses on Industry-University collaborations in China for high technological companies and the process of finding knowledge and establishes networks at Chinese universities with the aim of establish Industry-University collaboration. Based on literature review and a qualitative study of Chinese universities, this thesis explores how a MNC can build a network of local universities connection in a fast growing market and use this network as a source of technology scouting.</p>

Abstract: Title: An It consulting company and its relationship with customers Level: C-examination Bachelor’s degree in innovation, design and technology. IDT, 15hp. VT 17th Authors: Jonatan Clemens &amp; Staffan Hjalmarsson Handler: Anette Strömberg Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate how a major company meets the users and their needs as well as where and how the interaction with the user is done. Suggestions for areas of change are proposed in connection with the completion of the study. Research questions: -How does a consulting firm work with customers/users? -Are their work methods similar to what is described as successful in research on customer involvement? -Can work processes be improved? Method: The authors have used the qualitative method that has been developed as oral semi-structured interviews. The study is based much on hermeneutic form which means that one summarizes his own interpretations to get a deeper understanding. Conclusion: A conjunction and analysis of theoretical areas dealt with and empirical information led to the conclusion that there are indications that the company largely do not work according to established research the paper deals with. Assignment purpose: The essay should mainly have contributed to a deeper understanding on the subject of customer relations and should contribute beneficial information for a consulting firm regarding their client work. / Sammanfattning: Titel: Ett IT-konsultföretag och dess relation till kunder Nivå: C-uppsats: Examensarbete för kandidatexamen i innovationsteknik 15.0 hp. VT 17. Författarna: Jonatan Clemens &amp; Staffan Hjalmarsson Handledare: Anette Strömberg Datum: 2016-11-07 - 2017-01-12 Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur ett större företag möter användare och deras behov samt var och hur interaktion med dessa användare sker. Förslag på förändringsområden föreslås i samband med fullföljd studie. Forskningsfrågor: -Hur arbetar ett konsultföretag med kunder/användare? -Liknar deras arbetssätt vad som beskrivs som framgångsrikt i forskning om kundinvolvering? -Kan arbetsprocesserna förbättras? Metod: Författarna har använt sig av en kvalitativ metod som tagits fram i form av muntliga semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien Bygger mycket på hermeneutisk form som innebär att man sammanfattar sina egna tolkningar för att få en djupare förståelse. Resultat: En sammanvägning och analys av genomgångna teoretiska områden och empiri gav slutsatsen att det finns indikationer på att företaget till stor del inte arbetar efter etablerad forskning uppsatsen behandlar. Uppsatsens bidrag: Uppsatsen har framförallt bidragit till en djupare förståelse kring ämnet kundrelationer samt ska bidra med fördelaktig information för konsultföretaget gällande deras arbete.

This article investigates the practical application of open innovation principles within industrial new product development (NPD). Previous research on open innovation has primarily focused on the notion as such and not yet on how to integrating the principles of open innovation with well- established models for NPD. We aim to help close this knowledge gap. The purpose of this study is to explore how firms can benefit from opening up the NPD process by integrating the principles of open innovation with the well-known and widespread Stage-Gate model. To do this, previous literature is studied in combination with case study data investigating the existing occurrences and potential opportunities of employing the principles of open innovation within NPD at a firm within the upstream Oil &amp;amp; Gas business. Our empirical study shows that there are great virtues in the systematization of the already occasionally occurring open innovation practices. Additionally, a noticeable desire to pursue a more open approach to NPD was identified among the respondents. The results of this study allowed the enactment of a practitioner-oriented work model which exploits the advantages of “openness” while simultaneously capturing the benefits deriving from the systematic and structured approach implied by the Stage- Gate model. Furthermore, by opening up the Stage-Gate model, yet another opportunity is exposed: to allow the work model to facilitate a systematic adjustment of the way value is created and captured within the company (I.e. its business model and its underlying core capabilities) to the external environmental dynamics. This aspect is further included in the new work model. The main implications of this study are that is indicates great opportunities and possibilities in opening up the NPD process. It further introduces an easy applicable work model that facilitates the opening. Moreover, our results apply not only to firms within the Oil &amp;amp; Gas industry, but to all NPD processes where a Stage-Gate methodology is employed. / <p>Validerat; 20101217 (root)</p>

Notre recherche étudie les modifications dans la structure de l’entreprise occasionnées par la mise en œuvre de l’innovation ouverte. Plus précisément, nous nous intéressons aux modifications qui ont lieu dans la structure organisationnelle profonde et formelle de l’entreprise. Nous étudions ces modifications en mobilisant des données primaires (entretiens semi-directifs) et secondaires (rapports annuels et articles de presse) issues de neuf entreprises. Les résultats consistent en une nouvelle définition de l’innovation ouverte entrante, en un modèle contingent de l’innovation ouverte au niveau de l’entreprise et en une compréhension approfondie des modifications observées dans la structure organisationnelle profonde et formelle. La définition de l’innovation ouverte que nous proposons insiste sur trois aspects importants : l’intégration de l’ouverture dans la stratégie de l’entreprise en matière d’innovation, le caractère fréquent des collaborations et le caractère systématique de celles-ci. / This thesis studies the changes in the organizational structure determined by the implementation of open innovation. Specifically, we consider the changes in the deep and formal structure of a firm. We study these changes in nine firms by using primary data collected through semi-structured interviews and secondary data consisting of firms’ annual reports and journal articles. Our results consist of a new definition of inbound open innovation, a proposition of a contingency model of open innovation at firm level and a deep understanding of the way open innovation impacts the firm. The definition of inbound open innovation we propose emphasizes three main aspects : the integration the openness of innovation into the firm’s formal innovation strategy and the systematic and frequent use of collaborations with various actors in the innovation process.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-04-06T12:12:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 desenvolvimento_inovacao.pdf: 10440030 bytes, checksum: faa8be7d78a02d28632b1f0b5c498693 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-06T12:12:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 desenvolvimento_inovacao.pdf: 10440030 bytes, checksum: faa8be7d78a02d28632b1f0b5c498693 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-19 / FAPERGS - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / Diante das dificuldades sociais que as comunidades atuais têm se deparado, há grande preocupação na busca por soluções que possam, ao menos, minimizá-las. Neste contexto, as ações realizadas promovem o desenvolvimento de inovações sociais, ou seja, mudanças originadas a partir da identificação de necessidades complementares de atores distintos, cujo resultado pode gerar desenvolvimento social e econômico. Geralmente, o processo de desenvolvimento de uma inovação social inicia com o trabalho de um empreendedor social, que muitas vezes, está ligado a organizações do Terceiro Setor. Percebeu-se, então, que este processo, bem como as métricas utilizadas para avaliação do desenvolvimento e dos resultados da inovação social ainda representam um gap na literatura sobre o tema. Assim, este estudo buscou compreender como se dá o desenvolvimento de uma inovação social no contexto do terceiro setor e quais são os fatores que impactam na implementação. A partir da questão de pesquisa e à luz do referencial teórico, definiu-se como objeto de estudo um projeto piloto, na área da educação, cujo tema era o desenvolvimento de valores no ensino fundamental e que seria implementado durante o ano letivo de 2011, na rede escolar de Nova Prata/RS. Para responder à questão de pesquisa utilizou-se a metodologia quali-quanti, organizada em três fases distintas e que alimentavam a etapa subsequente. Na primeira fase, qualitativa e denominada Marco Zero, a pesquisadora procurou compreender o contexto em que o projeto seria implementado. Os resultados serviram como subsídio para a elaboração do instrumento de pesquisa da segunda fase, de caráter quantitativo, na qual se buscou, por meio da análise fatorial, definir os fatores que influenciam o desenvolvimento da inovação social. A partir dos resultados desta fase, foram realizadas entrevistas com diferentes atores envolvidos no processo - equipe diretiva e professores de escola, pais de alunos, orientadoras pedagógicas da secretaria de educação, gerente da Parceiros Voluntários e coordenadores da Unidade da Parceiros Voluntários de Nova Prata -, bem como a realização de dois grupos focais com alunos que participaram do projeto. Os resultados possibilitaram a elaboração de um framework que contempla diferentes variáveis para o desenvolvimento da inovação social, bem como a utilização da lógica da inovação aberta, na qual diferentes atores participam e influenciam o processo. Um dos resultados observados é o fato da identificação de objetivos complementares e não de objetivos comuns, como a literatura tem apontado e, posteriormente, ressaltado no conceito originado da pesquisa. O framework desenvolvido buscou detalhar as fases que conduzem à inovação social, procurando definir um processo que pode ser utilizado para replicação de projetos em diferentes contextos. / In view of the social difficulties faced by current communities, there is great concern in finding solutions that may, at least, minimize these problems. Within this context, the actions realized promote the development of social innovation, that is, changes that come about based on the identification of the complementary necessities of specific actors, the result of which may generate both social and economic development. Generally speaking, the development process for social innovation begins with a social entrepreneur project, which, very often, is linked to Third Sector organizations. It is thus noted that this process, along with the metrics used to evaluate the development and results of social innovation, still represent a gap in the literature on this topic. Therefore, this study sought to understand how social innovation is developed in the context of the voluntary sector and what the factors are that have an impact on its implementation. Based on the research question and theoretical references, the defined objective of this study was a pilot project in the area of education under the theme of the development of values in primary education, implemented during the academic year of 2011, in the school network of Nova Prata/RS. A qualitative/quantitative methodology was employed to respond to the research question, organized in three specific phases and which provided material for the subsequent stage. In the first phase - of a qualitative nature and called Marco Zero (Ground Zero) - the researcher sought to understand the context in which the project would be implemented. The results served to assist in the elaboration of a research instrument in the second phase - of a quantitative nature -, which sought to define the factors that influence the development of social innovation by means of factorial analysis. Based on the results of this phase, interviews were conducted with different actors involved in the process - school management team and teachers, students parents, educational advisors from the department of education, the manager of Parceiros Voluntários and coordinators from the Nova Prata Parceiros Voluntários Unit -, as well as the creation of two focal groups with students who took part in the project. The results allowed for the elaboration of a framework with different variables for the development of social innovation, as well as the use of the open innovation logic, in which different actors participate in and influence the process. One of the noted results was the identification of complementary objectives and not common objectives, as pointed out by the literature and, later, reiterated in the concept taken from the research. The developed framework sought to detail the phases that lead to social innovation, seeking to define a process that can be used for the replication of projects in different contexts.

Submitted by Fabricia Fialho Reginato (fabriciar) on 2015-08-25T00:20:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ElisaThomas.pdf: 2569705 bytes, checksum: ecf5d45598c2ad9923b46e4cc9811fe4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-08-25T00:20:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ElisaThomas.pdf: 2569705 bytes, checksum: ecf5d45598c2ad9923b46e4cc9811fe4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / It has long been stated in the literature the effects of collaboration to innovation, especially regarding research and development (R&D) activities. However, these are dynamic empirical fields. Therefore theoretical approaches face constant challenges to understand and explain the new evidences. Due to the limited scope and scale of organizations to search and identify partners with complementary knowledge and resources, and to select those with potential to effectively cooperate for R&D, there is an increasing emergence of agents who provide these services in the market. Called intermediaries or brokers, they influence the interaction among organizations with the common goal of innovation. Still, the literature has reported that the intermediary may play an important set of functions for R&D projects not limited to the search of partners. This thesis is therefore mainly concerned with the influence of innovation intermediaries in the context of collaborative R&D projects, suggesting a conceptual framework on the role of intermediaries. The framework emphasises that R&D collaboration goes beyond dyadic relationships usually highlighted in the literature. The roles of intermediaries provide an important additional dimension in collaborative R&D projects. The empirical part of the thesis explored three case studies: Force for Elastomers, from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil; the Orange Service Call and Reward project undertaken by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) for Orange; and the StarStream project from the University of Southampton, both in the United Kingdom. The results confirmed the influence of innovation intermediaries in most of the critical elements of a R&D project. The study advances the understanding of the influence of intermediaries for the beginning of a new project between partners. The analyses also show that intermediaries influence especially through the search for possible partners and the management of the relationship. However, the activities of research and knowledge production as well as activities of development and prototyping were not directly influenced by intermediaries. The stage after R&D, when the partners had reached positive results from activities, received a major influence from intermediaries who helped the firms to protect the inventions and to value and commercialize the new technology. Research outcomes still reveal that there is still a lack of measurements about intermediaries’ effectiveness and therefore firms involved in partnerships cannot fully evaluate their role.

This thesis is about exploring the suitable business model framework for open innovation projects in incumbent organizations like Ericsson. Due to the rise in global competition and digitalization incumbent companies cannot innovate in closed innovation systems. Open innovation accelerates the flow of internal and external knowledge for expanding to the new markets by the use of innovation. Companies need reliable and working tools to innovate their business models. Along with technological innovation, business models also play a dominant role in businesses. Companies need to protect their business models by building them strong.  Through making them hard to replicate for placing companies ahead of their competition. Companies employ the business model to understand value creation, delivery, and capture mechanisms. Open innovation explicitly incorporates the business model as a source of both value creation and value capture.  Later role of the business model is to enable the organization to sustain its position in the industry(West et al. 2006). The content of the thesis is explaining how the early stage startups and innovation projects are building their business models in incumbent organizations — then developing a suitable business model framework for such projects in incumbent organizations to building their business ideas.  Using design thinking methodologies proposed a business modeling approach with existing tools from the literature for creating a viable business model and using a value-based approach to quantify the value propositions by understanding value delivered to the customer and developing capturing model.  By converting those values in monetary terms, it makes it easy to propose a value-based price for the solution. Through this thesis, the author has introduced a framework and process model for business modeling by early stage projects. The contributions were in empirical findings and analysis focused on design thinking-based business modeling approach for MVBM framework and process model.

Les biotechnologies mobilisées aujourd'hui dans les bioindustries requièrent des compétences qu'une entreprise ne peut plus maîtriser seule. L'aboutissement d'innovations disruptives implique une approche pluridisciplinaire nécessitant l'intervention de plusieurs secteurs industriels ce qui s'oppose à une logique d'innovation propriétaire. La transversalité nécessaire à ces rapprochements entre entreprises privées et secteurs public et ou entre industries issues de secteurs d'activités différents modifie profondément la nature des modèles d'organisation. Parmi l'ensemble des modèles adoptés, celui des écosystèmes d'affaires (EA) occupe une place de plus en plus centrale dans les bioindustries. L'optimisation des logiques d'innovation associées est devenue un enjeu auquel même les institutions tentent de répondre en soutenant l'adoption de logiques d'innovation ouverte (IO) et le développement d'EA. Pourtant la nature de ces deux notions restent discutées et leur combinaison théorique mal comprise. Bien que les études de cas montrent que les EA appuient leur développement sur l'IO dans les domaines dont le développement repose sur la connaissance, la nature et la séquence de mise en œuvre des concepts mobilisés restent à déterminer. De plus, le débat demeure concernant la nature ontologique et les limites épistémologiques des notions d'IO et d'EA. Cette thèse s'efforce de préciser ces éléments puis elle détermine quel rôle est joué par l'IO dans l'émergence des EA dans les bioindustries françaises.L'analyse ontologique de la notion d'EA révèle la valeur purement métaphorique des transpositions effectuées par Moore depuis l'écologie pour en établir la définition. Par conséquent, l'approche analogique adoptée par une partie des scientifiques ne peut être retenue pour établir les limites épistémologiques de la notion d'EA. La nature ontologique de la notion d'IO reste incertaine. Nature des flux d'informations inter-organisationnels et capacités dynamiques des firmes sont conjointement mobilisés. Cette incertitude n'étant pas permissive à la réalisation d'une analyse épistémologique, les capacités dynamiques sont ici choisies comme fondement théorique de l'IO. L'analyse épistémologique de la notion d'EA démontre l'application d'une boucle récursive dans sa construction. De plus, elle révèle l'existence d'une théorie substantive derrière la notion d'EA, théorie mobilisant une séquence de concepts mise en œuvre successivement dans l'émergence des EA. L'IO étant l'une des notions mobilisées.La posture épistémologique adoptée dans cette thèse est celle du réalisme critique. Elle permet la prise en compte de la boucle récursive, est adaptée à l'approche par les théories ancrées, et intègre les circonstances intrinsèques et extrinsèques justifiant la manière dont les mécanismes générateurs sont activés. Elle autorise la formulation d'hypothèses fondatrices d'ordre ontologique. Ce choix permet de conserver la posture épistémologique séminale implicite de Moore, de légitimer la valeur de sa démarche ancrée, d'assumer l'hypothèse ontologique formulée à propos des fondements de l'IO, et de tenir compte des facteurs tant environnementaux qu'organisationnels justifiant de l'émergence des EA. La méthodologie d'analyse qui en découle est qualitative. Elle passe par une comparaison de deux études de cas réalisées sur la base d'analyses de données secondaires. Les facteurs contextuels de chaque cas sont corrélés afin de dévoiler les mécanismes générateurs justifiant du rôle de l'IO dans l'émergence des EA.Les résultats confirment la séquence de mise en œuvre des concepts proposés par Moore dans l'émergence des EA pour les bioindustries françaises. Ils précisent la place de l'IO dans cette séquence en spécifiant son rôle dans le passage de la collaboration à la coévolution des firmes au sein de l'EA. Ils confirment que l'EA ne constitue pas un modèle d'organisation en soi mais une posture inter-firmes favorisant l'adoption de modèles adaptés. / Biotechnologies mobilized today in bio-industries require skills that companies can no longer control alone. The development of disruptive innovations involves a multidisciplinary approach requiring the intervention of several industrial sectors that is opposed to proprietary innovation logic. Transversality necessary for these collaborations between private companies and public sectors and or between industries from different business sectors profoundly changes the nature of organizational models chosen by firms. Among all the models adopted, the business ecosystem (BE) occupies a more and more central place in bio-industries. The optimization of the associated logical innovation has become a challenge that even the institutions are trying to respond by supporting the adoption of open innovation logics (OI) and the development of BE. Yet, the nature of these two notions is still discussed and there theoretical combination remains poorly understood. Although case studies show that BE support their development on OI in knowledge based industries, nature and implementation sequence of underlying concepts remain to be determined. Moreover, the debate remains regarding the ontological and epistemological limits of OI and BE notions. This thesis seeks to clarify these elements and determines what role is played by the OI in the emergence of BE in the French bio-industries.The ontological analysis of BE notion reveals the purely metaphorical transpositions made by Moore from ecology to establish its definition. Therefore, the analogical approach supported by a part of the scientific community can't be applied to establish the epistemological limits of BE notion. The ontological nature of OI notion remains uncertain. Nature of inter-organizational information flows and dynamic capabilities of firms are jointly mobilized. This uncertainty is not permissive to the achievement of an epistemological analysis, therefore dynamic capacities here were chosen as theoretical foundations of the OI notion. The epistemological analysis of the development of BE notion demonstrates the application of a recursive loop in its construction. Moreover, it reveals the existence of a substantive theory behind the BE notion, theory which mobilizes a sequence of concepts implemented successively in the emergence of BE. The OI is one of mobilized notions.The epistemological posture adopted in this thesis is that of critical realism. It allows the inclusion of the recursive loop. It is suitable for the approach by grounded theories. It integrates intrinsic and extrinsic circumstances justifying how generating mechanisms are activated. It allows the formulation of founding ontological assumptions. This choice preserves Moore's implicit epistemological posture, legitimizes the value of its grounded approach, assumes the ontological assumption made about the foundations of OI notion, and takes into account both environmental and organizational factors justifying the emergence of BE. The resulting methodology is qualitative. It goes through a comparison of two case studies based on secondary data analysis. Contextual factors of each case are correlated to reveal the generative mechanisms justifying the role of OI in the emergence of BE.The results confirm the implementation sequence of concepts proposed by Moore in the emergence of BE in the French bio-industries. They precise the place of OI in this sequence by specifying its role in the transition from collaboration to co-evolution of firms within BE. They confirm that BE is not an organizational model in itself, but an inter-organizational stance promoting the adoption of appropriate models.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-07-13T16:51:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Baggio_.pdf: 849327 bytes, checksum: d48578cbd16c06d4aaebc25cadeb3269 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T16:51:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Baggio_.pdf: 849327 bytes, checksum: d48578cbd16c06d4aaebc25cadeb3269 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-06 / Nenhuma / O presente estudo foi motivado por lacunas teóricas sobre a gestão de práticas colaborativas de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D) no processo da inovação aberta (IA). As pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) são consideradas relevantes no contexto econômico brasileiro, entretanto, enfrentam diversas dificuldades para se desenvolver, crescer e inovar no mercado quando atuam de forma individualizada. Com base nessa contextualização, a pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar como PMEs brasileiras realizam a coordenação das práticas colaborativas de P&D no processo da IA. Como objetivos específicos deste estudo estão: identificar os motivos para a adoção de práticas colaborativas; as dificuldades encontradas em sua implementação no que se refere à coordenação dos projetos; identificar como ocorre a gestão através dos mecanismos de coordenação de Grandori e Soda (1995); e, analisar a importância x desempenho dos mecanismos na coordenação nos projetos. Para tanto, foi realizado um levantamento teórico que enfocou tópicos referentes ao processo da IA, colaboração e os mecanismos de coordenação. Como estratégia investigativa optou-se por uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo de quatro casos em que ocorreram práticas colaborativas entre: empresa-fornecedor (P1); empresa-empresa (P2); empresa-cliente (P3), e, empresa-universidade-usuários (P4). Os dados foram obtidos através de entrevistas em profundidade e dados secundários. Como resultado da pesquisa conclui-se que os principais motivos para a adoção das práticas colaborativas estão vinculados a fatores motivacionais de caráter individual em complemento com fatores relacionados por motivações organizacionais e estratégicas. Entre as dificuldades encontradas em relação à coordenação dos projetos colaborativos foram identificados os seguintes: sistemas de informação, suporte público e infraestrutura; negociações; e, sistema de controle e planejamento. Quanto aos mecanismos de coordenação utilizados nos projetos colaborativos, foram identificados os seguintes: comunicação, decisão e negociação; sistema de controle e planejamento; equipe comum; coordenação e controle social; e, interação interunidades. E, como ponto crucial desta pesquisa, percebeu-se que a utilização dos mecanismos de coordenação dependeu das particularidades e especificidades de cada projeto, influenciando na coordenação dos projetos colaborativos. Além disso, as evidências empíricas demonstram que, quanto maior a complexidade do projeto, os mecanismos de coordenação utilizados em sua gestão tendem a ser mais específicos e formais. / This study was motivated by theoretical gaps on the management of collaborative practices of research and development (R&D) in the open innovation process (OI). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered relevant in the Brazilian economic context, however, they face a lot of difficulties to develop, grow and innovate themselves in the market when they act individually. Based on this context, the research aimed to analyze how Brazilian SMEs realize the coordination of collaborative practices of R&D in the OI process. The specific objectives of this study are: identify the reasons for the adoption of collaborative practices; the difficulties found in the implementation of collaborative practices of R&D regarding the coordination of projects; identifying how the management of collaborative practices of R&D occurs in the OI, through Grandori and Soda (1995) mechanisms of coordination; and, analyze the importance x mechanisms performance when coordinating the projects. Therefore, a theoretical study was conducted focusing on topics related to the closed innovation process to the OI, cooperation and the coordination mechanisms. As the research strategy, was chosen a qualitative research, through a study of four cases in which collaborative practices occurred between: company-supplier (P1); company-company (P2); company-client (P3), and, company-university-users (P4). The data were collected through depth interviews and secondary data. As a result of the research it is concluded that the main reasons for the adoption of collaborative practices are linked to motivational factors of individual character in addition to factors related to organizational and strategic motivations. Among the difficulties found as regards the coordination of collaborative projects, the following ones have been identified: information systems, public support and infrastructure, negotiations, and control system and planning. Regarding the coordination mechanisms used in collaborative projects, the following ones have been identified: communications, decision and negotiation; controlling and planning system; common staff; coordination and social control; and inter-unit interaction. And, as a crucial point of this research, it was noticed that the use of the coordination mechanisms depended on the particularities and specificities of each project, influencing the coordination of collaborative projects. Moreover, empirical evidences show that the greater the complexity of the project, the coordination mechanisms used in its management tend to be more specific and formal.

Le modalità secondo cui iniziative imprenditoriali ad elevato impatto sociale possono amplificare il valore sociale creato mediante la propria attività costituisce uno dei temi più rilevanti per quelle imprese che intendono affrontare piaghe sociali ampiamente diffuse quali la povertà, l'accesso all'educazione e la salute. L'elaborato intende contribuire alla letteratura sull'imprenditorialità sociale discutendo le strategie, i modelli organizzativi e le competenze richieste per massimizzare l'ampiezza dell'impatto e aumentare le probabilità di successo. Tali temi sono discussi in tre articoli. Il primo, intitolato “Scaling social entrepreneurial impact: an open innovation perspective” presenta un modello teorico che mette in relazione tre differenti strategie di amplificazione dell'impatto sociale con le probabilità da parte dell'organizzazione di soddisfare le proprie attese in termini di valore creato atteso e di valore potenziale rivelato. Il modello suggerisce una relazione significativa tra l'adozione di confini organizzativi "aperti" e l'attitudine a rivelare nuovo valore potenziale. Inoltre, il grado di affinità tra i contesti in cui l'innovazione sociale è replicata modera tale relazione. Il secondo articolo, intitolato “Ba creation and Ba expansion in academic-practitioner partnerships in the social entrepreneurship field", fa riferimento all' "organizational knowledge creation theory" e propone, tramite un caso di studio longitudinale, un modello che illustra gli antecedenti della creazione e la successiva espansione del "Ba" nel contesto di una partnership tra un ateneo universitario e un'impresa sociale suggerendo in che modo gli attori coinvolti nel processo di creazione della conoscenza possano modificare i propri ruoli per produrre un impatto sociale superiore. Il terzo articolo, intitolato “Scaling Social Impact: A Replication and Extension of SCALERS” contribuisce alla letteratura replicando il primo test del modello SCALERS in un nuovo contesto internazionale (Italia) e sviluppandolo ulteriormente includendo alcune contingenze specifiche quali variabili moderatrici del modello. / Scaling social impact is among the most relevant challenges that social enterprises face in addressing global issues like poverty, access to education and health. The dissertation aims at contributing to social entrepreneurship literature by dealing with quests about how and why specific strategies and organizational models may improve the likelihood and the magnitude of the impact exerted by social organizations and which capabilities are most needed for impact to be scaled. Those issues are discussed along three essays. The first article entitled “Scaling social entrepreneurial impact: an open innovation perspective” presents a theoretical model connecting three strategies for spreading social innovation to organization’s confidence on achieving expected social impact and revealing new potential value. The model predicts that a strong relationship exists between the adoption of an open organizational structure and the attitude to reveal potential social value. Indeed, context similarity moderates this relation. The second article entitled “Ba creation and Ba expansion in academic-practitioner partnerships in the social entrepreneurship field” - by building on organizational knowledge creation theory - advances a model predicting the antecedents of ba creation and ba expansion within the framework of university – field organization partnerships, this way contributing to the social entrepreneurship field and suggesting how participants in ba creation and expansion may extend their roles in the knowledge creation process to achieve greater impact. The third article entitled “Scaling Social Impact: A Replication and Extension of SCALERS” contributes to the emerging scholarship on scaling of social impact by replicating initial results of the SCALERS model in an international context (i.e., Italy) and including some situational contingencies as moderating variables of the model.