How SMEs protect critical knowledge in joint innovation activities with external partners

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. INTRODUCTION AND RESEARCH QUESTION
• 1.1. Background
• 1.2. Research question
• 1.3. Outline of the report
• 2. THEORY
• 2.1. Means of protecting critical knowledge
• 2.1.1. Long term (strategic) means of protection
• 2.1.2. Medium term (tactical) means of protection
• 2.1.3. Short term (operational) means of protection
• 2.1.4. Overarching factors
• 2.1.5. Other
• 2.2. Strategies of protecting critical knowledge
• 2.2.1. Dilemma of openness and protection
• 2.2.2. Factors and determinants
• 2.2.3. Unique opportunities and challenges of smaller companies
• 2.2.4. Interrelations and trade off of protection mechanisms
• 2.2.5. Current best practices
• 3. METHODOLOGY
• 3.1. Research Design: Building theory from case studies
• 3.2. Research field
• 3.2.1. "Top 100 Unternehmen"
• 3.2.2. Research sample
• 3.3. Data collection: Interviews and secondary sources
• 3.4. Data analysis
• 4. FINDINGS
• 4.1. Protection strategies
• 4.1.1. Formal vs. informal means of protection
• 4.1.2. Means of protection vs. openness to external partners
• 4.1.3. Strategic groups
• 4.2. Cross-case patterns and relationships
• 4.2.1. Initial secrecy and patents reduce possible innovative performance
• 4.2.2. Influencing factors and the relevance of personal experiences
• 4.2.3. Strategies do not differ for different collaboration partners
• 4.2.4. SMEs prefer to collaborate with small partners
• 4.2.5. Large companies can protect knowledge better
• 4.3. Protection mechanisms
• 4.3.1. Distribution of protection mechanisms
• 4.3.2. Detailed evaluation of protection mechanisms
• 5. DISCUSSION & IMPLICATIONS
• 5.1. Conclusion
• 5.2. Managerial implications
• 5.3. Further research
• 5.4. Limitations

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to investigate how SMEs can effectively protect critical knowledge in collaborations with external partners to prevent knowledge loss, leakage, and theft while maximizing the performance of the collaboration. The research focuses on the specific challenges and opportunities facing SMEs in this context. Key themes explored in the study include: * **Means of Protecting Critical Knowledge**: Examining various methods for safeguarding valuable knowledge, including formal and informal approaches. * **Strategies of Protecting Critical Knowledge**: Analyzing the interplay between openness and protection, identifying factors that influence strategy choices, and recognizing the unique challenges faced by smaller companies. * **Openness and Innovation**: Investigating the relationship between knowledge protection mechanisms and a company's willingness to engage in external innovation. * **Collaboration Partner Selection**: Exploring the criteria used by SMEs when choosing partners for joint innovation activities. * **Factors Influencing Protection Strategies**: Identifying key factors that shape the choices SMEs make regarding knowledge protection.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction and Research Question
This chapter sets the stage for the study by introducing the problem of knowledge leakage in inter-firm collaborations and the vulnerability of SMEs. It also states the research question: how can SMEs best protect critical knowledge in collaborations with external partners?
• Chapter 2: Theory
This chapter provides a theoretical framework for the study by discussing various means of protecting critical knowledge, including long-term, medium-term, and short-term strategies. It also explores the dilemma of openness and protection, factors influencing protection strategies, and the specific challenges and opportunities for smaller companies.
• Chapter 3: Methodology
This chapter details the research design, including the selection of the research field, research sample, and data collection methods. It also explains the data analysis techniques used in the study.
• Chapter 4: Findings
This chapter presents the findings of the study, analyzing the protection strategies employed by SMEs, the relationships between different protection mechanisms, and the factors influencing these choices.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords and focus topics of the study include knowledge protection, SME collaboration, innovation, external partners, strategic decision-making, and inter-firm relationships. The study explores the challenges and opportunities associated with protecting critical knowledge in the context of joint innovation activities, with a particular focus on the unique vulnerabilities and advantages of SMEs.