The Effect of Personal and Social Characteristics of Entrepreneurship Team on Open Innovation in Information Technology Firms in Tehran

Implementing an open innovation process in firms requires a capable entrepreneurial team because of its various problems and challenges. However, there has been little research on the impact of entrepreneurial teams on open innovation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of personal and social characteristics of the entrepreneurship team on open innovation in Tehran information technology firms. In this quantitative research, a researcher-made questionnaire based on the literature review has been used for the analysis of the variables. The statistical population of the study was 3616 information technology firms in Tehran (10848 people in the form of entrepreneurial teams with an average of 3 people) of which 375 were selected as the sample. Findings showed that the personal and social characteristics of the entrepreneurial team have a significant and positive effect on open innovation. Entrepreneurial motivations have a mediating role in the relationship between personal and social characteristics of the entrepreneurship and open innovation team. Entrepreneurial motivation also moderates the relationship between the personal characteristics of the entrepreneurial team and open innovation, but it does not moderate the relationship between the social characteristics of the entrepreneurial team and open innovation.