Abstract:
Managers face alternatives in sourcing intellectual property and new ideas to fuel innovation. The traditional
focus on in-house research is giving way to open innovation in which firms depend on external sources for
technologies to use in new products and services. This article introduces a framework that identifies generic
innovation pathways, how choices in one period influence later options, and likely outcomes in terms of
creating innovation persistence. R&D managers will appreciate the framework as a tool that aids
decision-making. The framework provides scholars with a foundation to guide future empirical research on the
links between innovation form and outcome.
