Beyond closed doors: How to leverage open innovation ecosystems for supply chain success
Abstract
This paper makes the case for open innovation as an approach that can drive significant value for supply chain organisations. In contrast to traditional innovation, which tends to unfold behind closed doors, open innovation leads to new products, services and operating models as the result of collaboration and co-creation between an organisation and its partners. Drawing from survey research of 1,100 C-suite executives carried out by the American Productivity & Quality Center and the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV), the paper explores leading practices for how organisations can: 1) drive strategic alignment and collaborative culture; 2) measure open innovation process maturity, outcomes and return on investment (ROI); 3) invest in roles, skills and tools for open innovation; and 4) align processes with open innovation. Building a thriving open innovation ecosystem requires thoughtful investments from both organisations and ecosystem partners, but the payoff can be substantial. Organisations with mature open innovation practices see significantly better business outcomes than their peers, including higher ROI from their innovation efforts, faster time to market and higher revenue growth.
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Author's Biography
Marisa Brown is the Senior Principal Research Lead for Supply Chain Management at American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC). She leads APQC’s supply chain team that conducts research to provide insights into benchmarks, best practices and process improvements in supply chain planning, procurement, logistics, manufacturing, product development and innovation. A Supply and Demand Chain Executive ‘Pro to Know’ and ‘Women in Supply Chain’ award recipient, Marisa is a leader in supply chain with more than 25 years’ experience in business, research, writing, speaking and consulting.
Nathanael Vlachos is Senior Writer for Research Services at American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC). He works with APQC’s researchers to create whitepapers, case studies, articles and reports for a global business audience. He has more than ten years’ experience in business, non-profit and academic communications. Nathanael has a PhD in cultural anthropology from Rice University and a Master’s in philosophy from Texas Tech University.
Anthony Marshall is Senior Research Director of Thought Leadership at IBM’s Institute for Business Value (IBV). He leads IBM’s top-rated thought leadership and analysis programme. Anthony has oversight of a global team of 60 technology and industry experts, statisticians, economists and analysts, and remains personally active in conducting original thought leadership in areas including innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and cloud strategy.
Karen Butner serves as the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) Global Research Leader for artificial intelligence (AI), automation and supply chain management. In this role, she is responsible for market insights, industry trends and thought leadership development and deployment. IBV uses data-driven research and expert analysis to deliver thought-provoking insights to business leaders about emerging trends, opportunities and challenges. Karen’s thought leadership informs prescriptive recommendations to address the most pressing industry and marketplace challenges and opportunities that will determine future organisational success.
Laura Clymer is APQC’s Director of Research and Oversees Research Processes and the research services team that supports and ensures the timely development and dissemination of elevated, high-value content to APQC’s members. Laura brings more than two decades of extensive experience in Global 100 companies. As a member of APQC’s leadership team, she is also responsible for working with the organisation’s senior leadership in defining ongoing forward-looking research strategies.
Citation
Brown, Marisa, Vlachos, Nathanael, Marshall, Anthony, Butner, Karen and Clymer, Laura (2025, February 26). Beyond closed doors: How to leverage open innovation ecosystems for supply chain success. In the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Volume 7, Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.69554/EIQY1501.
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