Abstract
Purpose This study aims at exploring how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can implement a more open and co-creational business model by actively collaborating with startups. Design/methodology/approach Because of the novelty of the SME–startup collaboration phenomenon and to the depth of the investigation required to grasp the mechanisms and logic of an open and co-creational business model, a single-case study has been performed related to investigating a collaboration between an SME and a startup. Findings The authors provide detailed empirical evidence on how SMEs may structure a “systematic” approach to design and execute an open business model enabled by startup collaboration. Moreover, this study suggests that the business model innovation process represents a necessary forerunner of an open business model. Finally, the authors contend that research on open business models should entail a broader perspective beyond the innovation process, to include business model validation through testing approaches like the lean startup. Originality/value This study takes as the locus of investigation the original perspective of the external partner of a focal firm willing to innovate. This study offers a unique contribution because, to date, few studies adopted such view within a relevant and under-remarked empirical setting linking SMEs and innovative startups.
Highlights
This paper aims at exploring how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) may implement a more open and co-creational business model by collaborating with innovative startups
We conducted a single-case study related to an SME located in Italy, which is collaborating with startups operating in the biotech industry
We leverage on a single-case study with reference to an SME located in Italy
Summary
This paper aims at exploring how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) may implement a more open and co-creational business model by collaborating with innovative startups. SMEs [1] have been widely recognized both by leading political institutions (OECD, 2017; European Commission, 2016) and by scholars as the engines of national economies (Gibb and Li, 2003; Radas and Božic, 2009; Singh et al, 2008; Dooley and O’Sullivan, 2018). Despite their consistent contribution to economic growth. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
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