"Not Invented Here" (NIH) syndrome is a phenomenon where individuals, organizations, or institutions resist using products, research, standards, or knowledge developed outside their own sphere. This mindset is often rooted in a variety of motivations and biases, ranging from a desire to protect local economies and avoid paying royalties to foreign entities, to fears of patent infringement, or a lack of understanding of external innovations. Additionally, NIH syndrome can stem from an unwillingness to acknowledge or value the work of others, jealousy, belief perseverance, or even as part of broader organizational politics or turf wars.

The implications of NIH syndrome can be significant, as it may hinder collaboration, stifle innovation, and lead to inefficiencies. Despite the potential benefits of integrating external ideas or technologies, the NIH mindset creates a strong bias against outside contributions. This can limit an organization's ability to adopt innovative solutions that could enhance productivity, drive progress, or solve existing challenges more effectively.

Research has consistently shown that organizations and cultures exhibiting NIH syndrome often miss out on valuable opportunities for growth and advancement, as they prioritize internally developed solutions over potentially superior external options. Overcoming this bias requires a cultural shift towards openness, collaboration, and a recognition of the value that external ideas can bring to the table.

References

• Katz, R., & Allen, T. J. (1982). "Investigating the Not Invented Here (NIH) Syndrome: A Look at the Performance, Tenure, and Communication Patterns of 50 R&D Project Groups."
  
  ~ This paper explores the NIH syndrome in research and development settings, examining how it affects team performance and communication.

• Burcharth, A. L. D. A., Knudsen, M. P., & Søndergaard, H. A. (2014). "Neither invented nor shared here: The impact and management of attitudes for the adoption of open innovation practices." Technovation, 34(3), 149-161.
  
  ~ This study looks into how NIH syndrome affects the adoption of open innovation practices and suggests management strategies to overcome it.