Understanding outsourcing strategy within the intellectual property industry - a proposed typology Online publication date: Thu, 18-Mar-2021
by Sevim Süzeroğlu-Melchiors; Oliver Gassmann
International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM), Vol. 85, No. 1, 2021
Abstract: Outsourcing has gained much importance in managerial practice and academic discussion. This paper investigates the phenomenon of outsourcing knowledge-based work, particularly of intellectual property (IP). Using data from 36 cases, the analysis reveals a distinct typology of IP outsourcers based on a cost model and the firms' IP outsourcing strategy. Four in-depth case studies are analysed: non-outsourcer transaction cost outsourcer, expertise outsourcer, and strategic outsourcer. The differentiated analysis reveals trade-offs and both positive and negative effects of the IP outsourcing strategy. We suggest that firms need a differentiated approach based on the type of IP work (legal versus non-legal) and outsourcing breadth (number of outsourced IP services) to manage intellectual property rights (IPR) with external suppliers most efficiently. We conclude by providing practitioners five important lessons for the outsourcing of IP activities.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook