Systematic Literature Review on Open Innovation Failure

13. March 2025

Open Innovation (OI) has reshaped the way organizations approach innovation by integrating external ideas, technologies, and collaborations. While much of the research in this area emphasizes the benefits and successful implementation of OI strategies, failure in open innovation remains a critical dimension. Many firms struggle to realize the intended benefits of OI due to challenges related to governance, trust, knowledge integration, cultural fit, and more. Despite growing interest in OI, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding about why open innovation fails, and what common pitfalls and risk factors contribute to these outcomes. The main aim of this bachelor’s thesis is to fill this gap by conducting a systematic literature review of academic research on open innovation failure. The goal is to identify recurring themes, underlying causes, and potential strategies to mitigate failure in OI initiatives.

Level Bachelor
Language English
Field of Study Business Administration, Information Systems, Management, or related fields
Prerequisites
  • Interest in open innovation, business networks, and user communities
  • Willingness to engage in academic research and literature analysis
  • Familiarity with literature review methods is a plus (but not required)

Description

This thesis explores the phenomenon of failure in Open Innovation (OI) by systematically reviewing the existing academic literature. While most studies focus on how OI creates value, this thesis shifts the perspective to why it sometimes fails—highlighting the complexities and risks involved in managing open innovation initiatives.

The research will aim to answer questions such as:

  • What are the common causes of failure in OI initiatives?

  • Which internal and external factors contribute to unsuccessful OI efforts?

  • How do organizations respond to or learn from OI failures?

The outcome will be a structured synthesis of current academic knowledge on OI failure, providing both scholars and practitioners with insights on how to better design and manage OI processes to reduce the likelihood of failure.

Why Choose This Topic?

  • Growing Importance of OI Networks – Understanding innovation failure is critical in today’s fast-paced, collaborative business environment.
  • Methodological Rigor – You will gain experience in systematic literature review, a valuable academic and professional research method.
  • Unique Focus – While success in OI is widely studied, failure remains a relatively untapped area, offering fresh ground for insight.

How to Apply

If you are interested, please send the following via mail:

  • CV
  • Transcript of records
  • Short motivation

We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Person

Joni Riihimäki (email: joni.riihimaeki@fau.de)