VOIS - Area 2 - Module 2

  1. MODULE TITLE

Module 2: Managing collaborative innovation

  1. AUTHORS

Ewa Kopczynska

  1. SHORT DESCRIPTION

Managing collaborative innovation (this is going to be the link)

Open innovation can bring significant benefits to SMEs. But to obtain the benefit of open innovation you need to ensure a proper selection and management of open innovation projects. In this module, you will learn the main aspects relevant in this scope. This module consolidates the big picture of open innovation management. In this way, it will help you understand how specific areas we approached across the Virtual Open Innovation Ecosystem connect and contribute to your effective open innovation management.

  1. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

    Upon completing this module, you should be able to:

  • Make informed decisions regarding participation and shaping of open innovation projects,
  • Understand what decisions in your organisation will impact the success of open innovation projects,
  • Identify key decisions at the stage of forming open innovation partnership/network
  • Understand key requirements for well managed open innovation network/partnership
  1. Training Content
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Fostering effective innovation in the network

  1. Make open communication a principal rule and deal with issues proactively

Any collaboration will not be successful without effective communication. In open innovation, you will engage with partners with whom you have established different levels of trust. Independently, the openness of communication is the key tool not only to effective progress but also to avoiding mistrust that can obstruct collaboration and slow down progress. Especially as a leader, you need to ensure clear communication between partners, as well as communication of any actions and any changes or decisions you take on behalf of the partnership. Make sure that there is no doubt regarding your intentions and actions and no reason for anyone to fear you misuse your position. Be transparent and keep all aspects of performance and reporting available to all partners to monitor. Engage all partners in discussions regarding strategy, issues, and solutions. For no mistrust to arise, always communicate any risks, actions, or arising opportunities as soon as possible and resolve any problems quickly and, if possible, with the engagement of others. To avoid unexpected tension, periodically reach out to partners to discuss their concerns and be ready to prevent any issues before they transpire.

  1. Foster regular interactions

Remember that it does not matter how well you defined the partnership, if your partners do not interact there will be no benefit for anyone. While the objective and activities of your open innovation will usually dictate the intensity of interactions, make sure that at any point partners interact frequently. Lack of contact between partners on a frequent basis decreases the focus of participants on the common project. Whether your network is very active at any point in time or not, make sure that partners interact at least a few times per year – 2-4 times per year at least to keep ties between organisations.

  1. Know who knows what

One of the keys to benefiting from your network of knowledge partners or from an already established partnership is to build sufficient knowledge of the partners’ knowledge and competencies to be able to capitalize on them through connecting problems or opportunities with required expertise or help to cross-reference ideas to provide effective results from the network.

  1. Monitor costs across the network

In open innovation, each organisation will monitor its own costs to understand the investment made. But ensure that the total cost of the project is being monitored, also at a partnership level.

Across all the aspects of managing your network and collaborative projects make sure you will always keep in mind the internal objectives of your SME and not neglect SME management while focusing on reaching partnership objectives.