Leveraging external knowledge for open innovation: an empirical analysis of SMEs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of a company’s value chain partners, including customers, competitors and suppliers, on product and process innovation within Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on the resource-based view and the knowledge-based view, this work focuses on SMEs in Ho Chi Minh City as a representative context for understanding innovation dynamics in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach This study used a survey methodology, using a structured questionnaire that was distributed to directors and managers of SMEs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A random sample of 150 SMEs was selected from a list provided by the local Chamber of Commerce, and 111 completed responses were collected and analyzed to investigate the impact of external knowledge sources on innovation. Findings The analysis of SME responses in Ho Chi Minh City revealed that knowledge acquired from customers plays a significant and positive role in driving both product and process innovation. Customer insights were found to meaningfully contribute to improvements in product development and, to a lesser extent, operational processes. In contrast, knowledge sourced from suppliers and competitors did not show a statistically significant influence on either form of innovation. Practical implications This study provides practical guidance for managers and policymakers in Vietnam. Findings suggest that fostering customer engagement and actively seeking customer feedback can enhance product and process innovation among Vietnamese SMEs. The absence of significant effects from suppliers and competitors highlights the need to strengthen collaboration with these partners to unlock further innovation opportunities in the local context. Originality/value This paper advances comprehension of the interplay between regional forces and SME innovation by systematically examining the asymmetrical effects that varied external knowledge providers exert on open innovation results. By locating the analysis in an emerging market context, this study enriches the theoretical framework of open innovation and illuminates the differentiated utility of external knowledge, thereby deepening the literature on constrained-resource environments.