How Collaboration Across Industries Benefits Innovation
Kamula, Maria (2025)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052616292
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052616292
Tiivistelmä
This bachelor’s thesis studies the benefits that cross-industry collaboration has on innovation. The primary objective was to understand organizations perspectives and experiences of cross-innovation and the different aspects of the processes involved with them.
This study consists of a theoretical background section and empirical research based on a multi-source research design. The theoretical section includes theories that explain the necessity of innovation, the development of the innovation model, and the integration of innovation. Some of the key theories include open innovation, dynamic capabilities, and absorptive capacity. The empirical research was done using a qualitative approach in two data collection stages. The primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews from six participants to understand first-hand experiences and perceptions on cross-industry collaboration for innovation. The secondary data was collected from ten media articles, four research articles, one public interview, and one podcast to gain a wider perspective of media perception and organizations' publications on the topic.
The research results were analysed using thematic analysis, firstly the primary and secondary data separately – and lastly comparing and connecting the analysed results where possible. Both primary and secondary data revealed that there are both short-term and long-term benefits that both organizations and individuals gain from partaking in cross-industry collaboration for innovation. The gained benefits can be tangible, intangible, or both, and there is potential for the benefits to reach beyond the initial involved parties by providing social and economic value to the general population. The barriers associated with the innovation projects can be mitigated effectively, and there are ways to enhance the positive effects through deeper understanding and active strategies.
The key findings were drawn by comparing the empirical results with theoretical framework. The findings indicate that the potential benefits gained from cross-industry collaboration for innovation are substantial and for most organizations outweigh the potential risks and challenges. Additional key finding was also drawn between cross-industry collaboration for innovation and its potential to provide some solutions to global challenges.
This study consists of a theoretical background section and empirical research based on a multi-source research design. The theoretical section includes theories that explain the necessity of innovation, the development of the innovation model, and the integration of innovation. Some of the key theories include open innovation, dynamic capabilities, and absorptive capacity. The empirical research was done using a qualitative approach in two data collection stages. The primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews from six participants to understand first-hand experiences and perceptions on cross-industry collaboration for innovation. The secondary data was collected from ten media articles, four research articles, one public interview, and one podcast to gain a wider perspective of media perception and organizations' publications on the topic.
The research results were analysed using thematic analysis, firstly the primary and secondary data separately – and lastly comparing and connecting the analysed results where possible. Both primary and secondary data revealed that there are both short-term and long-term benefits that both organizations and individuals gain from partaking in cross-industry collaboration for innovation. The gained benefits can be tangible, intangible, or both, and there is potential for the benefits to reach beyond the initial involved parties by providing social and economic value to the general population. The barriers associated with the innovation projects can be mitigated effectively, and there are ways to enhance the positive effects through deeper understanding and active strategies.
The key findings were drawn by comparing the empirical results with theoretical framework. The findings indicate that the potential benefits gained from cross-industry collaboration for innovation are substantial and for most organizations outweigh the potential risks and challenges. Additional key finding was also drawn between cross-industry collaboration for innovation and its potential to provide some solutions to global challenges.