The open innovation paradigm: Can Digital Storytelling generate value for the Educational Field?

The aim of this chapter is to shed a light on an emerging educational and business paradigm, stemming from the digital revolution and the opportunities disclosed by Open Innovation. The central idea behind Open Innovation is that, in a world of widely distributed knowledge, companies cannot afford to rely entirely on their own research, but should instead buy or license processes or inventions from other actors. In addition, internal inventions not being used should be taken outside the company. Such paradigm could be extremely useful in education. After pointing out the potential benefits of digital storytelling and of web 2.0 and 3.0 for promoting pedagogical and organizational innovation, the authors present an application of the Open Innovation Paradigm in education: the Value Generating Framework. The chapter offers empirical evidence of the benefits of this paradigm through an in-depth analysis of the alliance between the Italian Zoo “Parco Natura Viva” and the Italian foundation “Radio Magica”. Nowadays a knowledge-intensive, collaborative, value network paradigm has demonstrated to be more successful than the previous firm-centric paradigm.