Open Practices in the Innovation Ecological Network and Sustainable Business Model Innovation: The Moderating Role of Absorptive Capacity
By: Nguyen Thi Thuy, Tran Nha Ghi and Nguyen Tan Trung
References
- IPCC (Sustainability) (2023) The synthesis report AR6: Climate Change 2023. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-cycle/.
- Forbes (2024) Finding a direction in the trend of sustainable development for the business community. Available at: https://forbes.vn/hoi-nghi-phat-trien-ben-vung/.
- Deloitte (2024) Sustainability Report. Available at: https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/climate/cxo-sustainability-report.html.
- Petrovic, O., Kittl, C. and Teksten, R.D. (2001) ‘Developing business models for ebusiness’, Available at SSRN 1658505.
- Guo, H., Zhao, J. and Tang, J. (2013) ‘The role of top managers’ human and social capital in business model innovation’, Chinese Management Studies, 7(3), pp. 447-469. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-03-2013-0050
- Lindgardt, Z., Reeves, M., Stalk, J., George and Deimler, M. (2012) ‘Business model innovation: When the game gets tough, change the game’, Own the future: 50 ways to win from The Boston Consulting Group, pp. 291-298. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119204084.ch40
- Reinecke, P.C., Küberling-Jost, J.A., Wrona, T. and Zapf, A.K. (2023) ‘Towards a dynamic value network perspective of sustainable business models: the example of RECUP’, Journal of Business Economics, 93(4), pp. 635-665. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-023-01155-7
- Midttun, A. (2021) ‘Governance and Business Models for Sustainable Capitalism (1st ed.)’, Routledge. Available at : https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315454931
- Schaltegger, S., Hansen, E.G. and Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2016) ‘Business Models for Sustainability: Origins, Present Research, and Future Avenues’, Organization & Environment, 29(1), pp. 3-10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026615599806
- Yuan, L., & Mähönen, J. (2024) ‘Can integrate a sustainable business model and global value chains revive the value chain’s sustainable growth? ‘, Circular Economy and Sustainability, 4(4), 2957-2980. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-024-00352-y
- Iansiti, M. and Levien, R. (2004a) ‘Strategy as ecology’, Harvard business review, 82(3), pp. 68-78, 126. Available at: http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/15029791.
- Costa, J. and Matias, J.C. (2020) ‘Open innovation 4.0 as an enhancer of sustainable innovation ecosystems’, Sustainability, 12(19), p. 8112. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198112
- Gao, S., Xu, K. and Yang, J. (2008) ‘Managerial ties, absorptive capacity, and innovation’, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 25(3), pp. 395-412. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-008-9096-1
- Zahra, S.A. and George, G. (2002) ‘Absorptive capacity: A review, reconceptualization, and extension’, Academy of management review, 27(2), pp. 185-203. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2002.6587995
- Bashir, M. and Pradhan, S. (2023) ‘The influence of knowledge-oriented leadership on business model innovation and open innovation: mediating role of absorptive capacity’, Management Decision, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-10-2022-1481
- Chesbrough, H. and Crowther, A.K. (2006) ‘Beyond high tech: early adopters of open innovation in other industries’, R&d Management, 36(3), pp. 229-236. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.2006.00428.x
- BlueJay (2022) 5 cách để tăng doanh thu với phần mềm CRM khách sạn. Available at: https://bluejaypms.com/article/5-cach-de-tang-doanh-thu-voi-crm-khach-san-266.
- Srisathan, W.A., C., K. and and Naruetharadhol, P. (2020) ‘The intervention of organizational sustainability in the effect of organizational culture on open innovation performance: A case of thai and chinese SMEs’, Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), p. 1717408. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1717408
- Bashir, M., Alfalih, A. and Pradhan, S. (2022) ‘Sustainable business model innovation: Scale development, validation and proof of performance’, Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7(4), p. 100243. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2022.100243
- Shakeel, J., Mardani, A., Chofreh, A.G., Goni, F.A. and Klemeš, J.J. (2020) ‘Anatomy of sustainable business model innovation’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 261, p. 121201. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121201
- Bocken, N.M.P., Short, S.W., Rana, P. and Evans, S. (2014) ‘A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, pp. 42-56. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.039
- Pan, L., Xu, Z. and Skare, M. (2023) ‘Sustainable business model innovation literature: a bibliometrics analysis’, Review of Managerial Science, 17(3), pp. 757-785. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-022-00548-2
- Martinez Volquez, G. (2022) ‘An exploration of sustainable business model innovation’. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/2436/625286.
- Zhao, X., Chang, T., Hwang, B.-G. and Deng, X. (2018) ‘Critical Factors Influencing Business Model. Sustainability 10(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010033
- Wasiq, M., Kamal, M. and Ali, N. (2023) ‘Factors influencing green innovation adoption and its impact on the sustainability performance of small-and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia’, Sustainability, 15(3), p. 2447. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032447
- Dhir, A., Khan, S.J., Islam, N., Ractham, P. and Meenakshi, N. (2023) ‘Drivers of sustainable business model innovations. An upper echelon theory perspective’, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 191, p. 122409. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122409
- Bashir, M. and Naqshbandi, M.M. (2024) ‘How managerial ties support sustainable business model innovation: the role of absorptive capacity and strategic flexibility’, Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-10-2023-0403
- Miroshnychenko, I., Strobl, A., Matzler, K. and De Massis, A. (2021) ‘Absorptive capacity, strategic flexibility, and business model innovation: Empirical evidence from Italian SMEs’, Journal of Business Research, 130, pp. 670-682. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.02.015
- Chesbrough, H. and Chen, E.L. (2015) ‘Using inside-out open innovation to recover abandoned pharmaceutical compounds’, Journal of Innovation Management, 3(2), pp. 21-32. Available at: https://doi.org/10.24840/2183-0606_003.002_0005
- Burguillo, J.C., Burguillo, J. and Ditzinger (2018) ‘Self-organizing coalitions for managing complexity’, Springer. Available at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-69898-4
- Newman, M.E. (2003) ‘The structure and function of complex networks’, SIAM review, 45(2), pp. 167-256. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1137/S003614450342480
- Jen, E. (2005) ‘Robust design: a repertoire of biological, ecological, and engineering case studies’, Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195165326.001.0001
- Newman, M.,Barabasi, A.-L., Watts, DJ, (2006). The Structure and Dynamics of Networks’, Princeton Studies in Complexity. Princeton University Press, Princeton. Available at https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-07918-000
- Ferrary, M. and Granovetter, M. (2017) ‘Social networks and innovation’, in The Elgar companion to innovation and knowledge creation. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 327-341. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781782548522.00029
- Hartman, J.L., Garvik, B. and Hartwell, L. (2001) ‘Principles for the Buffering of Genetic Variation’, Science, 291(5506), pp. 1001-1004. Available at: doi:10.1126/science.1056072
- Cohen, W.M. and Levinthal, D.A. (1990) ‘Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation’, Administrative science quarterly, 35(1), pp. 128-152. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-7223-8.50005-8
- Jiménez-Barrionuevo, M.M., García-Morales, V.J. and Molina, L.M. (2011) ‘Validation of an instrument to measure absorptive capacity’, Technovation, 31(5), pp. 190-202. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2010.12.002
- Escribano, A., Fosfuri, A. and Tribó, J.A. (2009) ‘Managing external knowledge flows: The moderating role of absorptive capacity’, Research Policy, 38(1), pp. 96-105. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2008.10.022
- Candido, A.C., Werlang, N.B. and de Junior Araujo, R.H. (2025) ‘Information Management and Absorptive Capacity in Open Innovation Practices: A Conceptual Model’, Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice, 13(2), pp. 22-36. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1633/JISTaP.2025.13.2.2
- Graça, P. and Camarinha-Matos, L.M. (2017) ‘Performance indicators for collaborative business ecosystems – Literature review and trends’, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 116, pp. 237-255. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.10.012
- Nan, M. and Huang, L. (2024) ‘Innovation Ecosystems: A Cross-Industry Examination of Knowledge Flows and Collaboration Dynamics’, Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 16(1), p. 26. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-01986-x
- Mei, L., Zhang, T. and Chen, J. (2019) ‘Exploring the effects of inter-firm linkages on SMEs’ open innovation from an ecosystem perspective: An empirical study of Chinese manufacturing SMEs’, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 144, pp. 118-128. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.04.010
- Xie, X., Fang, L. and Zeng, S. (2016) ‘Collaborative innovation network and knowledge transfer performance: A fsQCA approach’, Journal of Business Research, 69(11), pp. 5210-5215. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.04.114
- Xie, X. and Wang, H. (2021) ‘How to bridge the gap between innovation niches and exploratory and exploitative innovations in open innovation ecosystems’, Journal of Business Research, 124, pp. 299-311. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.11.058
- Fobbe, L. and Hilletofth, P. (2021) ‘The role of stakeholder interaction in sustainable business models. A systematic literature review’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 327, p. 129510. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129510
- Bocken, N. (2021) ‘Sustainable Business Models’, in W. Leal Filho, A. M. Azul, L. Brandli, A. Lange Salvia and T. Wall (eds.) Decent Work and Economic Growth. Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 963-975. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95867-5_48
- Silvestre, W.J. and Fonseca, A. (2020) ‘Integrative sustainable intelligence: A holistic model to integrate corporate sustainability strategies’, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(4), pp. 1578-1590. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1906
- Chesbrough, H. (2006) ‘Open innovation: a new paradigm for understanding industrial innovation’, Open innovation: Researching a new paradigm, 400, pp. 0-19. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199290727.003.0001
- West, J. and Bogers, M. (2017) ‘Open innovation: current status and research opportunities’, Innovation, 19(1), pp. 43-50. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14479338.2016.1258995
- Chesbrough, H., Radziwon, A., Vanhaverbeke, W. and West, J. (2024) ‘The Oxford handbook of open innovation’, Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192899798.001.0001
- Howell, J.M. and Sheab, C.M. (2001) ‘Individual differences, environmental scanning, innovation framing, and champion behavior: key predictors of project performance’, Journal Of Product Innovation Management: An International Publication Of The Product Development & Management Association, 18(1), pp. 15-27. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-5885.1810015
- Popa, S., Soto-Acosta, P. and Martinez-Conesa, I. 118 (2017) ‘Antecedents, moderators, and outcomes of innovation climate and open innovation: An empirical study in SMEs’ Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 2017/05/01/. pp. 134-142. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162517301658.
- Kỳ, N.N. (2025) ‘Environmental Pollution Data in Vietnam 2025’. Available at: https://mycogroup.com.vn/nuoc-va-suc-khoe/so-lieu-ve-o-nhiem-moi-truong-tai-vietnam/?srsltid=AfmBOopvLBrd7ZulVGBXTK_vM0sY-ysBMqMpdduKAedvhIJ6n7J2Alom.
- Parizi, M.S. and Radziwon, A. (2017) ‘Network-based automation for SMEs’, International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 18(1), pp. 58-72. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBG.2017.081027
- Roome, N. and Louche, C. (2016) ‘Journeying toward business models for sustainability: A conceptual model found inside the black box of organisational transformation’, Organization & Environment, 29(1), pp. 11-35. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026615595084
- Geissdoerfer, M., Vladimirova, D. and Evans, S. (2018) ‘Sustainable business model innovation: A review’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 198, pp. 401-416. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.240
- Bogers, M., Zobel, A.-K., Afuah, A., Almirall, E., Brunswicker, S., Dahlander, L., Frederiksen, L., Gawer, A., Gruber, M., Haefliger, S., Hagedoorn, J., Hilgers, D., Laursen, K., Magnusson, M.G., Majchrzak, A., McCarthy, I.P., Moeslein, K.M., Nambisan, S., Piller, F.T., Radziwon, A., Rossi-Lamastra, C., Sims, J. and Ter Wal, A.L.J. (2017) ‘The open innovation research landscape: established perspectives and emerging themes across different levels of analysis’, Industry and Innovation, 24(1), pp. 8-40. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2016.1240068
- Chesbrough, H.W. (2003) ‘Open innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology’, Harvard Business School, Available at: https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2006.20591014
- Foss, N.J., Lyngsie, J. and Zahra, S.A. (2013) ‘The role of external knowledge sources and organizational design in the process of opportunity exploitation’, Strategic Management Journal, 34(12), pp. 1453-1471. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2135
- Huang, X.-x., Hu, Z.-p., Liu, C.-s., Yu, D.-j. and Yu, L.-f. (2016) ‘The relationships between regulatory and customer pressure, green organizational responses, and green innovation performance’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, pp. 3423-3433. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.106
- Naruetharadhol, P., Srisathan, W.A., Gebsombut, N. and Ketkaew, C. (2021) ‘Towards the open eco-innovation mode: A model of open innovation and green management practices’, Cogent Business & Management, 8(1), p. 1945425. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2021.1945425
- Mahmood, T. and Mubarik, M.S. (2020) ‘Balancing innovation and exploitation in the fourth industrial revolution: Role of intellectual capital and technology absorptive capacity’, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 160, p. 120248. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120248
- Colombo, M.G., Laursen, K., Magnusson, M. and Rossi-lamastra, C. (2012) ‘Introduction: Small Business and Networked Innovation: Organizational and Managerial Challenges’, Journal of Small Business Management, 50(2), pp. 181-190. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2012.00349.x
- Henttonen, K. and Lehtimäki, H. (2017) ‘Open innovation in SMEs: Collaboration modes and strategies for commercialization in technology-intensive companies in forestry industry’, European Journal of Innovation Management, 20(2), pp. 329-347. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-06-2015-0047
- Presenza, A., Abbate, T., Meleddu, M. and Cesaroni, F. (2017) ‘Small-and medium-scale Italian winemaking companies facing the open innovation challenge’, International Small Business Journal, 35(3), pp. 327-348. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616664798
- Cohen, W.M. and Levinthal, D.A. (1989) ‘Innovation and Learning: The Two Faces of R & D’, The Economic Journal, 99(397), pp. 569-596. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2307/2233763
- Lopes, A.P.V.B.V. and de Carvalho, M.M. (2018) ‘Evolution of the open innovation paradigm: Towards a contingent conceptual model’, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 132, pp. 284-298. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.02.014
- Jansen, J.J., Van Den Bosch, F.A. and Volberda, H.W. (2005) ‘Managing potential and realized absorptive capacity: how do organizational antecedents matter?’, Academy of management journal, 48(6), pp. 999-1015. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2005.19573106
- Sisodiya, S.R. (2008) ‘The effect of open innovation on new product development success: The moderation of interfirm relational knowledge stores and social network characteristics’, Washington State University. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/openview/66cac10c30a8a8aa5f0bf4fff2965cc7/1?pqorigsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
- Lichtenthaler, U. (2009) ‘Outbound open innovation and its effect on firm performance: examining environmental influences’, R&d Management, 39(4), pp. 317-330. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.2009.00561.x
- Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021) ‘Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using R: A workbook’, Springer international publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7
- Hair, J.F., Hult, G.T.M., Ringle, C.M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N.P., Ray, S. (2021) ‘Evaluation of Reflective Measurement Models. In: Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R’, Classroom Companion: Business. Springer, Cham. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7_4
- Fornell, C. and Larcker, D.F. (1981) ‘Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error’, Journal of marketing research, 18(1), pp. 39-50. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800313
- Henseler, J., Ringle, C.M. and Sarstedt, M. (2015) ‘A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling’, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), pp. 115-135. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
- Guide Jr, V.D.R. and Ketokivi, M. 37 (2015) ‘Notes from the Editors: Redefining some methodological criteria for the journal’, Wiley Online Library, pp. v-viii 1. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-6963(15)00056-X
- Hair, J.F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C.M. and Mena, J.A. (2012) ‘An assessment of the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling in marketing research’, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40(3), pp. 414-433. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-011-0261-6
- Minh, T. T., & Hjortsø, C. N. (2015) ‘How institutions influence SME innovation and networking practices: The case of V ietnamese Agribusiness’, Journal of Small Business Management, 53, 209-228. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12189
- Huong, N. (2025) ‘World Bank charts talent path for Vietnam’s semiconductor future’. Available from: https://vir.com.vn/world-bank-charts-talent-path-for-vietnams-semiconductor-future-137849.html.
- Kock, N. (2015) ‘Common method bias in PLS-SEM: A full collinearity assessment approach’, International Journal of e-Collaboration (ijec), 11(4), pp. 1-10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4018/ijec.2015100101
- Kock, N. (2021) ‘WarpPLS v. 7.0 User manual’, ScriptWarp Systems, Laredo, TX, USA. Available at: https://www.scriptwarp.com/warppls/UserManual_v_7_0.pdf
- Cohen, J. (2013) ‘Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences’, routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203771587
- Troise, C., Santoro, G., Jones, P. and Bresciani, S. (2024) ‘Small and medium enterprises and sustainable business models: Exploring enabling factors for adoption’, Journal of Management & Organization, 30(3), pp. 452-465. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2023.45
- Minatogawa, V., et al. Towards Systematic Sustainable Business Model Innovation: What Can We Learn from Business Model Innovation. Sustainability, 2022. 14, 2939 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052939
- Jain, A., Gurtoo, A., Eppinger, E., Vimalnath, P. and Tietze, F. (2024) ‘Exploring the interplay between intellectual property models and sustainability transitions: A multi-level analysis’, Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(7), pp. 7321-7351. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3851
- Huang, H.-C., Lai, M.-C., Lin, L.-H. and Chen, C.-T. (2013) ‘Overcoming organizational inertia to strengthen business model innovation’, Journal of Organizational Change Management, 26(6), pp. 977-1002. Available at: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-04-2012-0047
- Ricard, L. M., & Jofre, S. (2023) ‘For Open Innovation’, In A. Rehn, & A. R. Örtenblad (Eds.), Debating Innovation: Perspectives and Paradoxes of an Idealized Concept (pp. 223-240). Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: http://10.1007/978-3-031-16666-2_12
- Cassiman, B. and Valentini, G. (2016) ‘Open innovation: are inbound and outbound knowledge flows really complementary?’, Strategic Management Journal, 37(6), pp. 1034-1046. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/43897990 (Accessed: 2026/01/17/).
- Vaca, C. A. M., Vaca, L. O. M., Bejarano, M. A. G., & Siu, D. R. S. (2023) ‘Absorptive Capacity in Inbound and Outbound Open Innovation in Emerging Economy context’, Revista Venezolana de Gerencia: RVG, 28(103), 1069-1084. Available at: https://doi.org/10.52080/rvgluz.28.103.10
Language: English
Page range: 313 - 332
Submitted on: Dec 1, 2025
Accepted on: Jul 1, 2026
Published on: Aug 6, 2026
Published by: STE Group sp. z.o.o.
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
Related subjects:
© 2026 Nguyen Thi Thuy, Tran Nha Ghi, Nguyen Tan Trung, published by STE Group sp. z.o.o.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.