Resource recombination perspective on open eco‐innovation: Open innovation type, strategic orientation, and green innovation

This study aims to investigate the missing links in open eco‐innovation by focusing on the following questions, which existing studies have limited attention in the existing literature: (1) Given the level of breadth and depth of a firm's open eco‐innovation, how can open innovation types be distinguished? (2) In what way does the open innovation type differ in implementing an open eco‐innovation strategy? and (3) How do open innovation strategic differences affect green innovation performance? Drawing upon the knowledge‐based view and dynamic capability perspective, this study provides theoretical grounds for a firm's breadth and depth of an open eco‐innovation strategy. It suggests a 2 × 2 resource recombination framework to differentiate between four open innovation types for green innovation: Maverick, Best friend, True, and Cherry‐picker. Using data from 2496 manufacturing firms in South Korea, we applied a k‐means cluster analysis to generate four groups and conducted regression analyses to confirm hypotheses. Our findings supported the influence of open innovation type on strategic orientation; however, the effect was not observed in Best Friend. Additionally, ambidextrous strategic orientation significantly influenced green innovation compared to either exploitative or explorative strategic orientations.