Understanding digital innovation processes in manufacturing SMEs: Crossing organizational boundaries to address managerial challenges

Abstract

While crossing organizational boundaries may be valuable for actors in manufacturing SMEs pursuing digital innovation, it can also add another layer of complexity in doing so. For example, actors need to coordinate how they collaborate in such a setting, develop fruitful knowledge or resource sharing practices, while at the same time connecting to what is going on in their internal organization. Thus, in crossing their organizational boundaries, actors representing manufacturing SMEs not only have to navigate technical challenges that are associated with exploring new opportunities offered by emerging digital technologies, but also navigate social challenges that may originate from collaborating in a complex setting or dealing with potential resistance to change in the internal organization. Hence, as SMEs often struggle to implement digital technologies and embrace digital innovation, this doctoral thesis is written from the desire to get a better understanding of how actors in manufacturing SMEs pursue digital innovation. In particular, I pay specific attention to how crossing organizational boundaries can potentially alleviate internal resource constraints.