Managing skills for open innovation: the case of biotechnology
ISSN: 0025-1747
Article publication date: 10 April 2018
Issue publication date: 4 June 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the composition of skillsets in biotechnology from the perspective of employers and its relation to open innovation processes in the sector. It provides conclusions for HR management practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on job advertisements content analysis and in-depth interviews with chiefs of research and development companies. It uses biotechnology as an example of industry where open innovation practice implementation is expanding. The authors have used data from American, British and Russian job search engines.
Findings
It is demonstrated that skills composition required in biotechnology does not vary significantly among selected countries as the market becomes increasingly globalized in terms of not only technology used but also personnel hired. Companies stress more on hard and digital skills, while soft skills appear to be a “must have without saying,” The mismatch between skills presented in the advertisements and articulated in the interviews has been found as employers tend to demonstrate innovation friendly company culture for possible applicants.
Originality/value
The present paper enriches literature on employee skills for open innovation. It gives comprehensive lists of biotech skills in-demand divided into hard, digital and soft categories and interprets them within the context of employee cognition and behavior. The new insight into employee skills articulated by the companies as a strong element of organizational culture is presented.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The paper was prepared within the framework of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) and supported within the framework of the subsidy granted to the HSE by the Government of the Russian Federation for the implementation of the Global Competitiveness Program.
Citation
Lavrynenko, A., Shmatko, N. and Meissner, D. (2018), "Managing skills for open innovation: the case of biotechnology", Management Decision, Vol. 56 No. 6, pp. 1336-1347. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-04-2017-0301
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited