Determinants of open innovation in low-tech SMEs: the influence of the top management team and employees’ human capital
Determinantes de la innovación abierta en las pymes de baja tecnología: la influencia del equipo de alta dirección y el capital humano de los empleados
Author
Vega Jurado, Jaider Manuel
Sánchez-Mojica, Karla Yohana
Paternina-Arboleda, Carlos D.
Manjarrés-Henriquez, Liney
Abstract
This article aims to analyze the influence of top management team (TMT) characteristics and employees’ human capital on the adoption of open innovation practices in low-tech SMEs. The empirical study is based on the use of structural equations from the data derived from a questionnaire applied to 95 companies in the agro-industrial sector located in the northeastern region of Colombia. The results indicate that both the TMT’s diversity and coordination have a significant and positive influence on the adoption of open innovation practices. On the other hand, regarding human capital, the results indicate that the experience of the employees is a more decisive feature when implementing open innovation strategies than their level of education and training. This paper contributes to the literature by providing part of the missing microfoundations of open innovation and more strongly connecting open innovation, human capital, and TMT configuration.