Confluence of open innovation and sharing economy: lessons learned and roadmap for future research

Abstract

Digital transformation has travelled a short and impactful period from a crisp modern utility to a formidable business necessity. As a result, a myriad of business models have unfolded. The one that excels with its capabilities and transformative prosperous potential is open innovation (OI). While establishing its integrity and identity throughout decades, it has proven beneficial in forging strong confluences with other business models, amongst which the sharing economy (SE) stands out. As front-runners of modern digitalisation trends, empowering sustainable business, servitisation, and responsible consumption of artificial intelligence, SE and OI have determined a new research field representing their theoretical and practical interrelations. Therefore, this study aims to identify research gaps in the latter while outlining constructive implications. Leveraging the metadata provided by Web of Science, the study identifies the literature related to the confluence of SE and OI. Additionally, by combining the findings of bibliometric analysis with a conscientious qualitative analysis of a limited number of articles, the study amplifies the holistic characteristics of the research topic. Finally, a set of straightforward research findings and implications for practitioners and academia is granted as a foundation for future research endeavours.