Culture-based open innovation approach. A case study of German SME

Innovations are increasingly emerging from networks in which different competencies can be bundled with the help of Open Innovation (OI). As a result, also small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) have to deal with networking in the sense of opening up their processes. In addition, the opening of the culture and mindset is a central aspect in the dissemination of OI. This study investigates the knowledge about and the dissemination of OI, concentrating on German SMEs in the traditional sector of technical textile industry. A particular emphasis is placed on the influence of the employees' mindset, the organizational culture and on the readiness for OI. This study is the first of its kind to examine the link between OI in German SMEs and organizational culture. In addition, it gives an overview of the status quo in detail. It can make a significant contribution to the understanding of opportunities, risks and concerns regarding OI in SMEs.