Research On Technological Innovation Resource Allocation In Equipment Manufacturers In Open Innovation

As innovations are becoming multidisciplinary increasingly, a combination of technology and knowledge that normally exceed the capabilities of a single firm is often needed to generate breakthroughs. Researchers have realized this change and proved the feasibility of external resource acquisition in technology innovation (TI) based on the Transaction Cost theory, which started a new era in research in resource management in TI. Chesbrough (2003) has proposed a model in which firms tend to acquire resources for technology and market access from both the internal and the external. A large body of literature has focused on this domain, in which the input and output of innovation resources is the central issue. To build a model of TI resource allocation for the Chinese firms is the primary target of this research.Based on the Open Innovation theory (Chesbrough,2003), Resource-Based View (Wernerfelt,1984; Barney,1991) and Innovation Resource System model (Teece, 1986), this research consists of three modules:the function mechanisms of resource input in TI, the acquisition of external resources of firms with different cooperation modes and openness, and the optimal input modes of resources in production innovation, process innovation and platform innovation respectively. This research is based on analysis methods of literature research, firm interviews, and big sample questionnaire survey. The main contents and achievements are listed as follows:First, a new model of resource allocation in Open Innovation is constructed based on the models of Open Innovation (Chesbrough,2003) and Innovation Resource System (Teece,1986). And according to the case studies of the innovation activities and resource allocation management of four typical equipment manufacturers, the innovation input intension, openness of cooperative mode, openness of market mode and the ratio of technology to complementary assets are selected as the most essential balance issue that firms should emphasize in resource allocation management, and which have significant impact on innovation performances through mediators of R&D capability, manufacturing capability and marketing capabilities.Second, the impact of cooperation mode and openness on the external resource acquisition is analyzed in the research. Results show problems in cooperation mode selection and openness management in Chinese equipment manufacturers. The function curves have revealed the impact and instructed the optimal openness of different cooperation modes.Third, SEM is employed in the mechanism and path analysis of resource inputs. Results show that R&D capability has greatest impact on performances among the three basic capabilities. And openness of cooperative mode has the greatest positive impact on performances among the four input issues while openness of market mode has negative impact on performances to the contrary of the others. Results have given instructions to adjust cooperation modes and openness to promote the accumulation of resources and capabilities.And finally, the research has attached importance to the resource allocation in the innovation process in product innovation, process innovation and platform innovation respectively. Stepwise regression is employed to find out the key input items and the optimal input structure. Results have revealed the weakness in management of cooperation mode selection, openness control and cooperation between R&D and manufacturing in Chinese manufacturers.In this research a new model of resource allocation in Open Innovation is formulated based on Open Innovation theory (Chesbrough,2003) and Innovation Resource System model (Teece,1986). Further study of how to input is made as complementarities to the main model. Above all, it is a fundamental study which promotes to further researches of resource allocation, and it has offered some suggestions and references for the management of open innovation in Chinese firms.