Building Competitive Advantage Through Open Innovation : A case study in the financial technology sector

Abstract: The modern financial industry includes fast-changing technology, new regulations, and markets where companies at times find themselves at disadvantage. This study focuses on how organizations can build competitive advantage, particularly by drawing on the open innovation concept. We conceptualize its relationship to competitive advantage as a strategy of using and developing dynamic capabilities in business ecosystems. This view is empirically analysed through qualitative data from four organizational actors in the financial technology (fintech) sector, using semi-structured interviews and a case study approach. The results of the study show that there is a so-called fintech business ecosystem where collaboration and openness generate new opportunities and new innovations. It also shows that the capabilities networking and scanning, investment processes and an open, agile organizational culture are essential to gain advantage of the opportunities in the business ecosystem. In building competitive advantage from open innovation process, these capabilities provide speed and are necessary to find external resources that can effectively be united with internal key resources, creating unique resource combinations. This indicates that companies should focus on activities that enable these capabilities.