Step 3

Companies that fully embrace Open Innovation and have an effective strategy for accessing external ideas, research and technology.

Step 2

Companies that demonstrate some components of Open Innovation but have yet to develop a strategic approach to its management.

Step 1

Companies that are aware of Open Innovation but have not developed effective ways to access external ideas, research and technology.

Step 0

Companies that do not recognise Open Innovation and do not engage with external sources for ideas, research and technology.

To try out this tool on your own company, proceed as follows:

1. Consider the sets of statements shown below.

2. With each set, click on the one which best describes your company.

3. Finally, click on the 'Calculate Position' button at the bottom of the page.

Note: The calculation will only work if your browser can handle JavaScript

Our company has an excellent record for finding and utilising external ideas

A few of our new product ideas have originated from external sources

We have reviewed, but never actively progressed, some external ideas

Our company has never considered accessing external sources for ideas

We have established very strong links with several academic institutions

We are trying to expand our links with the university sector

We have only limited contacts with the higher education sectors

Our company has no links to any colleges or universities

Our new product strategy is underpinned by several collaborative R&D projects

We are trying to increase our involvement in strategic R&D collaborations

We have been involved in a few non-strategic collaborative R&D projects

We do not collaborate with any external partners on R&D

We work frequently with technology experts who provide an input to our strategy

We sometimes use experts who provide an external input to our technology strategy

We have rarely obtained technology advice from external experts

We never use external technology experts to complement our internal knowledge

Our company is very active in several strategically managed technology networks

Part of our strategy is to increase participation in key technology networks

Some individuals are involved with technology networks on an ad hoc basis

Our company has had no participation in any technology networks

We participate in, and source ideas from, several business and investment networks

We are starting to seek innovation from business and investment networks

We are considering participation in business and investment networks

We haven’t considered participation in business and investment networks

We use intermediaries that help us scout for innovations in our areas of interest

We are starting to explore innovations that have been suggested by intermediaries

We have limited contact with intermediaries could help us source external ideas

We have not considered using intermediaries to source external innovations

We promote our interest in external ideas and make full use of web-based services

We have made several attempts to promote our areas of interest to providers

We have occasionally indicated our areas of interest to potential providers

We have made no efforts to promote our interests to potential providers

Open Innovation is publicly supported and driven through our company from the top

Open Innovation is being championed by a specific part of the company (e.g. R&D)

Open Innovation is being encouraged in our company by a few individuals

Open Innovation is not championed by anyone within our company

We have restructured our management and incentives to maximise Open Innovation

We are making a significant changes to encourage and facilitate Open Innovation

We are considering how best to restructure our company for Open Innovation

We are unlikely to change our management structures to facilitate Open Innovation

We always involve a cross-functional team when considering external opportunities

We often involve people from other departments when considering external ideas

We sometimes involve other departments when considering external opportunities

We never involve people from outside R&D when reviewing external opportunities

We have a dedicated budget for finding, assessing and purchasing external ideas

We intend to ring-fence part of our R&D budget for investing in external ideas

Although we have no budget, in exceptional cases we may invest in external ideas

It is highly unlikely that we would have any resources for investing in external ideas

We conduct regular audits to identify gaps in our technology and business portfolios

We have made attempts to identify gaps in our technology and business portfolios

Gaps in our portfolios are assessed by individuals on an ad hoc basis

We are entirely focused on the development of our existing product lines

We use a proven system for screening and evaluating external opportunities

We are trying to introduce new systems for screening and evaluating opportunities

We evaluate potential opportunities on an ad hoc basis

We have no systematic way for screening or evaluating opportunities

Our procedures ensure that externally-sourced ideas are developed effectively

Processes to effective knowledge transfer are established on a case-by-case basis

We have not developed any formal knowledge transfer processes for external ideas

We do not develop/exploit knowledge, research or technology from external sources

Our dedicated team manages internally-generated and externally purchased IP

Our IP team is beginning to consider the purchase/management of external IP

The main role of our IP team is the protection and management of our own IP

We do not have anyone that is dedicated to managing intellectual property

Our systems ensure that we provide an effective response to all external ideas

Our staff do their best to ensure that we respond effectively to external opportunities

It can take a long time for us to respond effectively to external opportunities

We have missed out on external opportunities due to our lack of responsiveness

We ensure that every opportunity is judged on its merits, irrespective of its origin

We actively encourage our staff to be more open to external ideas

Our staff tend to show some reluctance to working on ideas from external sources

Our company sources all of its innovation opportunities from internal ideas

We provide clear incentives and rewards that encourage Open Innovation

We have provided some incentives but they are formalised into the reward system

Collaborative working is encouraged by a few key individuals within the company

We have no processes in place to encourage or reward Open Innovation

All key staff are trained to ensure that the company benefits from Open Innovation

Several members of staff have been briefed about the benefits of Open Innovation

A few individuals are believed to have received some training in Open Innovation

No member of staff has received any training in Open Innovation

Step 3

Companies that fully embrace Open Innovation and have an effective strategy for accessing external ideas, research and technology.

Step 2

Companies that demonstrate some components of Open Innovation but have yet to develop a strategic approach to its management.

Step 1

Companies that are aware of Open Innovation but have not developed effective ways to access external ideas, research and technology.

Step 0

Companies that do not recognise Open Innovation and do not engage with external sources for ideas, research and technology.