Innovation, Product Development, and New Business Models in Networks: How to come from case studies to a valid and operational theory

We have in the research project NEWGIBM (New Global ICT based Business Models) during 2005 and 2006 closely cooperated with a group of firms. The focus in the project has been development of new business models (and innovation) in close cooperation with multiple partners. These partners have been customers, suppliers, R&D partners, and others. The methodological problem is thus, how to come from e.g. one in-depth case study to a more formalized theory or model on how firms can develop new projects and be innovative in a network.

The paper is structured so that it starts with a short presentation of the two key concepts in our research setting and theoretical models: Innovation and networks. It is not our intention in this paper to present a lengthy discussion of the two concepts, but a short presentation is necessary to understand the validity and interpretation discussion later in the paper. Next step is a brief presentation of the case study methodology and our research setting with three fundamental research questions regarding methodology addressed in this paper. The next part of the paper presents a distinction between out-come driven and event-driven research and makes a case for the latter as the most relevant.