IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eme/ejimpp/ejim-01-2021-0058.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The evolution of the pathways of innovation strategies in the automotive industry. The case of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Candelo
  • Ciro Troise
  • Diego Matricano
  • Amedeo Lepore
  • Mario Sorrentino

Abstract

Purpose - Fundamental management innovations have been ideated and developed in the automotive industry. Over the years, carmakers have radically modified their innovation strategies. Currently, carmakers are increasingly adopting open innovation approaches, moving from a closed to open innovation paradigm. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the evolution of the innovation activities performed by carmakers and to propose an original periodisation of innovation strategies in the automotive industry since its origins. Design/methodology/approach - This paper analyses the relevant literature and proposes a theoretical framework that defines how innovation strategies have changed from the birth of the automotive industry to current times. A detailed in-depth case study of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), one of the top ten global carmakers, is used to corroborate the theoretical framework. The case study reconstructs the entire evolution of the innovation strategies of the company from its origins to the present day. Findings - The paper proposes an original periodisation by identifying three evolutionary phases of innovation strategies pursued by carmakers: “internal innovation”, “collaborative innovation” and “towards open innovation”. Each phase embraces a historical period, and for each period, the most relevant managerial aspects, as well as the types and direction of knowledge flows for fostering innovation, are analysed. The case study provides clear evidence that FCA has undergone the three above-cited phases in fostering its innovation strategies. Originality/value - The study reconstructs the evolution of the innovation strategies performed by global carmakers, proposing an original periodisation of the transitions that occurred in practice in the automotive industry. This paper is among the first to explore the evolution of innovation strategies in the automotive industry since its origins to date and to highlight the salient differences that have occurred over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Candelo & Ciro Troise & Diego Matricano & Amedeo Lepore & Mario Sorrentino, 2021. "The evolution of the pathways of innovation strategies in the automotive industry. The case of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(5), pages 1368-1387, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ejimpp:ejim-01-2021-0058
    DOI: 10.1108/EJIM-01-2021-0058
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/EJIM-01-2021-0058/full/html?utm_source=repec&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=repec
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/EJIM-01-2021-0058/full/pdf?utm_source=repec&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=repec
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1108/EJIM-01-2021-0058?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eme:ejimpp:ejim-01-2021-0058. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Emerald Support (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.