Connecting the Dots: Framing Employee-Driven Innovation in Open Innovation Contexts

Abstract

This research identifies employment engagement practices applied in leading innovation-driven companies in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. It specifically focusses on practices designed in order to enhance employees’ role in developing innovation in an open innovation (OI) context, leveraging digital communication and community tools. The operational integration between internal and external resources is to a large extent a cultural challenge where new competencies are required from employees. Employee-driven innovation (EDI) can be an important means supporting the transformation toward more OI models. Relying on a case-based methodology, we develop a conceptual framework of EDI practices in OI contexts. We highlight the benefits of involving all employees in innovation processes and show that such practices can perpetuate OI by supporting, enabling and even driving OI depending on the strategic intent of their implementation.