A framework for investigating open innovation processes in ISD

The theme of this year’s ICIS conference focuses on connectivity and collaboration. In Information Systems Development (ISD) these concepts are increasingly important as developing effective information systems is rarely a task that can be completed in isolation by a single co-located team. Connectivity and collaboration with a wide range of external sources of knowledge is required; a trend which is in line with the concept of Open Innovation - the flow of ideas into and out of an organization. The literature on Open Innovation (OI) uses a variety of definitions and focal points, which do not yet cohere into a useable analytical framework. This research-in-progress paper proposes an important and unique tailoring of a widely used ISD framework, Method-in-Action. By integrating the literature on OI, a conceptual framework has been developed which illustrates some significant aspects and factors which need to be considered when investigating open innovation process use in ISD.