The influence of inbound open innovation on ambidexterity performance: Does it pay to source knowledge from supply chain stakeholders?

Extant research has neglected an in-depth examination of the relationship between external knowledge sourcing and the ability of firms to balance radical and incremental innovation activities (i.e., innovation ambidexterity). Therefore, the present paper seeks to reveal the effects of knowledge sourcing activities directed toward three relevant supply chain stakeholders (i.e., suppliers, customers, and competitors) on innovation ambidexterity. Based on a sample of 5897 firms that participated in the Italian Innovation Survey (IIS) (2008–2010), we reveal that sourcing knowledge from suppliers, customers, and competitors has a positive influence on innovation ambidexterity, hence confirming our hypotheses. Specifically, suppliers represent the most relevant knowledge source, followed by customers and, then, competitors. These results expand the literature discussing the relationship between inbound open innovation and ambidexterity performance, which falls short of a clear understanding of whether and the extent to which sourcing knowledge from supply chain stakeholders facilitates achieving innovation ambidexterity.