An exploratory study into IT governance implementations in living laboratory ecosystems and its impact on open innovation effectiveness

Abstract

This paper describes a research-in-progress that explores how the information technology (IT) governance mechanisms of Living Laboratories are associated with open innovation effectiveness. In recent years Living Labs, which embody an open innovation milieu and open innovation approach, have gained currency as representing a salient catalyst for Smart City research and development. However, the current body of Living Lab research in conjunction with the fragmented isolated nature of existing Living Labs dispersed across the European Union (EU), indicate that a lack of common standardised IT governance procedures are currently being operationalised. While cross border pan European Living Lab initiatives are emerging to rectify this issue, further research is warranted to identify how varying IT governance mechanisms are impacting the effectiveness of open innovation processes. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is the development of a conceptual framework that seeks to identify how Living Lab open innovation ecosystems can establish effective IT governance and identify what types of IT governance capabilities are believed to be relevant to Living Lab open innovation effectiveness.