External Collaboration in the Innovation Process of a Fashion Industry

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the studies of open innovation, the global innovation, and product development processes. The collaboration of external suppliers in the innovation process of an organization was researched; which was understood as an open innovation performance. As the fashion industry makes part of the organizations that deliver constant innovations, it was chosen, as a study object for this article, an international organization that has a subsidiary in the state of São Paulo. Six professionals were interviewed. They were directly involved in the clothing development. Using a qualitative methodological approach, with case study method and content analysis for data treatment, it was verified that the independence of action and adoption of open innovation occurs along the different phases of the innovation process.