The Application Of Online Platforms In Open Innovation

Abstract

It is well known that innovation has been recognized as a crucial success factor for companies. The development of information technologies enabled integration of innovators (suppliers, customers, institutes) into innovation process by the use of IT-based tools. This facilitated the access to a large pool of ideas that can grow into innovation as new product/service, process. The connection of open innovation concept and information systems resulted in platforms for open innovation that enabled easier access, not only to customers, but also to other potential participants, who are willing to independently contribute in solving the specific problems of the company. Having in mind the importance of this contemporary approach, the main goal of the paper is the systematization of platforms for open innovation. Moreover, we presented platform classification, key elements of existed platforms design, as well as various examples of best practice of platforms for open innovation with recognized design elements.