InnoCentive.com (A)

Karim R. Lakhani

InnoCentive.com, a firm connecting R&D labs of large organizations to diverse external solvers through innovation contests, has to decide if they will enable collaboration in their community. Case covers the basics of a distributed innovation system works and the advantages of having external R&D. Links how concepts of open source are applied to a non-software setting. Describes the rationale for participation by solvers in innovation contests and the benefits that accrue to firms. Raises the issue if a community can be shifted to collaboration when competition was the basis of prior interaction.

Learning Objective

To cover the mechanics of open innovation and the rationale for participation by firms and individuals. To discover the challenges of moving to a collaborative model for innovation, and the potential opportunities for participants in a collaborative setting.

Details

Pub Date: Jun 10, 2008(Revised: Oct 28, 2009)

Discipline: General Management

Subjects: Collaboration, Innovation, Open source software, Platforms, Problem solving, Technology, Web-based technologies

Source: Harvard Business School

Product #: 608170-PDF-ENG

Teaching case: Available

Supplementary cases (B) 612026-PDF-ENG and (C) 612027-PDF-ENG

Geography: United States

Length: 22 page(s)

InnoCentive.com (B)

Karim R. Lakhani, Eric Lonstein

InnoCentive.com (C)

Karim R. Lakhani, Eric Lonstein