Title: Subcontracting product development: creating competitiveness through networking

Authors: Anna Kyrki, Marko T. Torkkeli

Addresses: Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Prikaatintie 9, FIN-45100 Kouvola, Finland

Abstract: Product development has become increasingly complex and resource-consuming. Consequently, internal development capabilities can be insufficient for maintaining a firm|s competitive position. External cooperation and networking with other firms have been suggested as means for accessing necessary complementary knowledge or resources. In this paper, cooperation is studied as the key to improving competitiveness, especially in the case of small firms. The empirical part describes supplier cooperation in four case companies. The focus is on software product development cooperation with foreign suppliers. The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of organising product development across a network of suppliers.

Keywords: software development; networking; supplier cooperation; product development; subcontracting; outsourcing; foreign suppliers; supplier networks; supplier involvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2009.026747

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2009 Vol.5 No.3, pp.241 - 257

Published online: 25 Jun 2009 *

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