We extend heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Caroline Fabian for her thesis, which will be the first to appear in a new series called Frontiers in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This series presents comprehensive examinations of key topics in entrepreneurship and innovation management, with each volume synthesizing the academic literature on a specific topic while translating research insights into practical implications for managers, entrepreneurs, and innovation professionals.

In her thesis, Dr. Fabian looked into the not-invented-here syndrome:

Organizations operate in a world where knowledge is widely distributed and constantly evolving. Breakthroughs emerge in startups, universities, supplier networks, and digital platforms. Yet many firms systematically undervalue ideas that originate outside their boundaries. This phenomenon is known as the not-invented-here (NIH) syndrome.

Drawing on a comprehensive review of the academic literature, her thesis examines the roots of the not-invented-here syndrome, the factors that sustain it, and its consequences for innovation performance. It also outlines practical strategies that help organizations recognize, evaluate, and integrate valuable external knowledge.