TOWARDS A DYNAMIC THEORY OF CAUSATION, EFFECTUATION AND BRICOLAGE: A STUDY OF THE PROCESS OF PARTNERSHIP SELECTION FOR AN OPEN INNOVATION COMMUNITY

Abstract: The purpose of this study is twofold. Firstly, it aims to contribute to research by creating an understanding of how partners are selected in practice by an open innovation community. Secondly, it aims to contribute to research by building on the theories of causation and effectuation, as well as bricolage - a novel approach to partnership selection. We took an interpretive epistemological stance, iterating between an inductive and deductive research approach, to study a specific case. Data is obtained through in-depth qualitative interviews and analysed in a longitudinal manner. As the results, we have unveiled four findings for the process of partnership selection in an open innovation community in the lenses of causation, effectuation and bricolage. First, the process of partnership selection is dynamic, manifesting different levels of the theories throughout the process. Second, the three theories are intertwined. Third, individual behaviour in this process is not linear and locked to one theory, as it can change due to emerging interaction. Fourth and final, causation is overrated by research, acknowledging the need for further research in the eminent theories of effectuation and bricolage. Practical implications include asking managers to be open minded and flexible towards a means-driven and bricolage approach in the process of partnership selection.