Digital Broadband and Open Innovation: First Insights in Information Technologies Sector.

Abstract

Purpose. The study is aimed to disclose how Digital Broadband (DBD) is affecting the practice of Open Innovation (OIN) in the Information Technologies Sector of Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara, Mexico (ITSZMG) to achieve a model, for the improvement of relationships.

Methodology. It is a descriptive, exploratory, correlational, cross-sectional, qualitative-quantitative research. As a qualitative study, it is based on a deep literature review after which, we used Delphi Panel with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), determining our main factors: DBD (1 factor/ 6 variables/43 indicators) and OIN (3 factors/23 variables/161 indicators) in a questionnaire Likert scale, involving 600 ITSZMG specialists at 200 SMEs. The survey was on the period of September-December 2016.  As a quantitative study, we applied Confirmatory Factor Analysis using EQS 6.2 software.

-The value of this study, is to propose a generalized model involving the relationship between DBD-OIN for ITSZMG, and identify the underlying variables and their relationships to make suggestions about how to be more innovative, among the firms in the sector.

-Final results: 5/6 DBD variables have significant positive effect on 18/23 OIN variables.

This implies opportunities to develop the model.

-Conclusions: We obtained an empirical model capable of identifying its own DBD-OIN relationships in order to be, a more innovative firm in the ITSZMG.