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Jun-mo Ahn

Korea University · Business, Management and Accounting

About the Lab

Professor Jun-mo Ahn's research lab focuses on open innovation (OI) and its strategic implications in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with an emphasis on the micro-foundations of innovation driven by CEO characteristics and leadership. The lab investigates how openness, OI capacities, and collaborative partnerships—particularly with non-competing actors—enhance firm performance, resilience, and dynamic capabilities. It also explores the long-term and societal impacts of open innovation, including contributions to addressing grand societal challenges through cross-sector collaboration. The research integrates empirical analysis using survey and panel data from Korean and UK firms to provide actionable insights for managers and policymakers.

open innovationfirm performanceSMEsCEO traitscollaborative innovation

Research Overview

Papers
54
Total Citations
1,367
Papers (5y)
23
Primary Field
Business, Management and Accounting

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
23total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
212total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|212 citations·2017
Understanding the human side of openness: the fit between open innovation modes and CEO characteristics
Joon Mo Ahn, Tim Minshall, Letizia Mortara
SJR Q1R and D ManagementOA

In small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), where typically the decision‐making process is highly centralised, important decisions, such as open innovation (OI) adoption, will be strongly influenced by the characteristics of their Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). Pointing the attention to the strategic leadership and human elements, this paper sheds light on the micro‐foundation of OI by emphasising the role that the personal traits of key individuals in innovation. OI adoption could result i

Management of Technology and InnovationBusiness, Management and Accounting
2
Article|151 citations·2015
Open innovation: a new classification and its impact on firm performance in innovative SMEs
Joon Mo Ahn, Tim Minshall, Letizia Mortara
SJR Q3Journal of Innovation ManagementOA

This paper attempts to deepen understanding of the relationship between open innovation (OI) and firm performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on survey data from 306 Korean innovative SMEs, the results of this study show that: (1) broad and intensive engagement in OI and cooperation with external partners are positively associated with firm performance; (2) technology and market-oriented OI modes (Joint R&D, user involvement and open sourcing), involving relatively lo

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
3
Article|131 citations·2019
Do government R&D subsidies stimulate collaboration initiatives in private firms?
Joon Mo Ahn, Weonvin Lee, Letizia Mortara
SJR Q1Technological Forecasting and Social ChangeOA
Economics and EconometricsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance
4
Article|123 citations·2016
Beyond absorptive capacity in open innovation process: the relationships between openness, capacities and firm performance
Joon Mo Ahn, Yonghan Ju, Tae Hee Moon, Tim Minshall, David Probert, So Young Sohn, Letizia Mortara
SJR Q2Technology Analysis and Strategic Management

The literature has shown that open innovation (OI) can be a winning strategy in improving firm performance. However, in order to adopt and implement it, managers need to resolve practical problems, such as understanding the role played by OI capacities and openness on firm performance. In response to these needs, this study aims to investigate the hierarchical relationships between openness, OI capacities and performance using a structural equation model approach. This paper also attempts to com

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
5
Article|89 citations·2017
Dynamic capabilities and economic crises: has openness enhanced a firm's performance in an economic downturn?
Joon Mo Ahn, Letizia Mortara, Tim Minshall
SJR Q1Industrial and Corporate ChangeOA

Many studies have attempted to investigate the potential benefits of open innovation. However, the long-term effects of openness have yet to be demonstrated, even if few researchers hypothesized that high openness could increase firms’ dynamic capabilities and hence their resilience in the face of adversities, such economic downturns. Hence, this article attempts to investigate this dynamic relationship between openness and firm performance with particular considerations addressing the recent fi

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
6
Article|82 citations·2019
Leveraging open innovation to improve society: past achievements and future trajectories
Joon Mo Ahn, Nadine Roijakkers, Riccardo Fini, Letizia Mortara
SJR Q1R and D ManagementOA

Open innovation (OI) is an approach which describes a purposive attempt to draw together knowledge from different contributors to develop and exploit innovation. It has become clear that OI directly benefits organisations' economic performance and resilience, but researchers, practitioners, and policy makers became also convinced that OI might be the way forward to tackle the world’s most pressing societal challenges, representing unresolved Grand Challenges, which can only be weathered by diver

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
7
Article|39 citations·2023
Measuring the novelty of scientific publications: A fastText and local outlier factor approach
Daeseong Jeon, Junyoup Lee, Joon Mo Ahn, Chang‐Yong Lee, Chang‐Yong Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Informetrics
Information SystemsComputer Science
8
Article|37 citations·2013
The effects of open innovation on firm performance: A capacity approach
Joon Mo Ahn, Letizia Mortara, Tim Minshall
Cambridge University Engineering Department Publications DatabaseOA

<i>Background</i>: Growing evidence indicates that physical/sporting activities may improve the health outcomes and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer (BC) survivors. Since recent reports have suggested that sailing can improve the psychophysical well-being and QoL of people with disabilities, this pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a tailored sailing experience on the QoL and psychological distress (PD) of BC survivors. <i>Methods</i>: A group of 19 breast cancer survivors, who were

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
9
Article|32 citations·2019
What facilitates external knowledge utilisation in SMEs? – An optimal configuration between openness intensity and organisational moderators
Nan Kyung Kim, Joon Mo Ahn
SJR Q1Industry and Innovation

This study explores the complex relationships between open innovation (OI) climate and OI activities by investigating the changing moderating effects of organisational facilitators in small innovative firms. Our partial least squares structural equation modelling analysis suggests (1) OI-friendly climate promotes OI activities, (2) this process is further facilitated by various organisational efforts, but (3) the efforts firms must put in are proportional to the level of openness intensity. The

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
10
Article|22 citations·2020
The hierarchical relationships between CEO characteristics, innovation strategy and firm performance in open innovation
Joon Mo Ahn
SJR Q3International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

Open innovation (OI) has become an important business norm of successful firms; however, its strategic aspects and the role of a key individual, such as a chief executive officer (CEO) in its adoption, have been under-researched. This paper aims to investigate whether OI is relevant to SMEs and how CEO characteristics influence firm performance through OI. The hierarchical relationships between a firm and CEO characteristics are analysed with structural equation modelling (SEM) using data from 4

Information Systems and ManagementDecision Sciences
11
Article|22 citations·2016
Determinants of innovation collaboration selection: a comparative analysis of Korea and Germany
Joon Mo Ahn, Dong-bok Kim, Seongwuk Moon
SJR Q1Innovation

With the complexity of technology increasing and globalisation becoming more common, the importance of collaboration in innovation implementation has increased in recent years. The literature has investigated collaboration in various ways, but the scope of the research has been fragmented and mainly confined to single- or similar-country contexts. To address this research gap, this paper investigated the different innovation strategy configurations in vertical, horizontal and international colla

Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting
12
Article|22 citations·2021
Open for innovation: An improved measurement approach using item response theory
Cristina Marullo, Joon Mo Ahn, Irene Martelli, Alberto Di Minin
SJR Q1Technovation
Sociology and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
13
Book Chapter|20 citations·2018
How Do Entrepreneurial Leaders Promote Open Innovation Adoption in Small Firms?
Joon Mo Ahn, Tim Minshall, Letizia Mortara
WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks

This chapter aims to shed light on the role of the top executives in open innovation in small firms, providing a microfoundation framework for open innovation adoption, which future research will be able to empirically test. Recognizing that open innovation adoption implies an organizational routine change, we suggest that individuals’ characteristics, such as risk-taking propensity and endurance as well as their knowledge and network, play important roles in moderating open innovation adoption.

Management of Technology and InnovationBusiness, Management and Accounting
14
Article|17 citations·2021
Bottom‐up solutions in a time of crisis: the case of Covid‐19 in South Korea
Hyunkyu Park, Mi-Young Lee, Joon Mo Ahn
SJR Q1R and D ManagementOA

Innovation systems have seen diverse actors attempting to tame the Covid‐19 crisis, under varying degrees of government direction. Largely neglected in scholarly and public attention, however, are ‘bottom‐up’ solutions arising from the periphery of innovation systems. Drawing on inductive case research on a fringe doctor who invented the idea of the drive‐through testing system, and two university student teams that developed coronavirus applications, this study examines how peripheral actors ge

Management of Technology and InnovationBusiness, Management and Accounting
15
Article|12 citations·2014
Open Innovation: An Approach for Enhancing Performance in Innovative SMEs
Joon Mo Ahn, Tim Minshall, Letizia Mortara
SSRN Electronic JournalOA
Strategy and ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting

Research Areas

Strategy and ManagementManagement of Technology and InnovationEconomics and EconometricsAerospace EngineeringInformation Systems and ManagementElectronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

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