Open Innovation practices for Product Service System as a business model innovation

The need for modernizing Business Models (BM), while carrying on internal reconfiguration of companies and embracing environmental sustainability purposes, stimulated new interest on Product Service System (PSS) potential. Despite a considerable volume of production on the topic, there is still growing attention on PSS as a Business Model Innovation and the chances offered to firms. This paper’s objective is to contribute to this stream of literature by conducting a first exploratory study on involvement of Open Innovation (OI) practices in the adoption of PSS-related BMs. A stratified sample of 9 firms allowed comparisons and reflections on the interrelation between characteristics of PSSs (with related tactics) and OI practices. What emerged from results is how PSS adoption and implementation can benefit from the employment of OI practises, according to different organizational forms and offerings. Future research directions should aim at consolidating results in a theory building effort.