Openness at Google : perspectives from theory and practice

Abstract

Open innovation was defined by Chesbrough (2003) as a development process that allows ideas to flow through the boundaries of the firm. However, while open innovation has been the focus of extensive research and discussions since its definition by Chesbrough in 2003, no consensus has been reached on a single meaning of the term. Starting from a publication by Rosenberg (2009) that defines openness at Google as the combination of open technology and open information, this paper draws on works and discussions on open innovation to assess Google's openness. While openness is often considered as a binary measure and a single dimension, it needs to be defined as a multi-dimensional concept measured on continuous scales. In this respect, Google's openness significantly varies depending on products and dimensions of openness. For instance, while Google is open with respect to promoting open-source and open standards, the company does not open source the majority of its products. While Google's selective openness has received heavy criticisms, we conclude that openness should be recognized as a strategy that allows the firm to generate profits, rather than serve altruistic goals.