Based on interviews with R&D managers and a survey amongst R&D employees Verena Nedon shows
that perceived social pressure has an immense impact on R&D employees working in OI-projects.
Employees' attitude (regardless of whether positive or negative) and perceived behavioral
control play an important but not dominant role. The study also implies that intrinsic
motivators have a stronger effect on employees' willingness to engage in knowledge exchange
with external partners than extrinsic components. By targeting a set of relevant questions
related to the human side of open innovation the study significantly contributes to the
micro-foundation of OI-research and sheds light on the hitherto neglected perspective of
employees engaged in OI-projects. The findings are relevant for scholars companies already
following the OI-approach and OI-newcomers.
