Action Research and Open Innovation

Abstract

In today's world, ‘global' problems increasingly require global solutions. In order to realize these solutions, innovation processes are ‘opening up'. Both of these developments adds a level of complexity to the Action Research process that is traditionally, and perhaps inherently local in nature. However, it also offers opportunities. This chapter explores the case of an Action Research innovation that reached a global scale beyond the initial Action Research process that started it, with the help of Open Innovation strategies. From this case we learn that Open Innovation has a significant potential for sustaining Action Research ‘action' beyond its initiation and make them transferable across contexts. At the same time, such ‘open' innovations can grow very complex, and therefore so can ‘open' Action Research solutions – especially when they concern (free and open source) information systems. The concept of ‘Action Research Systems' is introduced as one way in which Action Research can help ground Open Innovation processes in dealing with this complexity.