Title: Geo-cultural influences and critical factors in inter-firm collaboration

Authors: Helen Lawton Smith, Keith Dickson

Addresses: Coventry Business School, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK. School of Business and Management, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: Inter-firm collaboration and other forms of inter-organisational activity are increasingly the means by which technological innovation occurs. This paper draws on evidence from two studies of the same set of firms to examine the conduct of collaborations over time across different contexts. The purpose is to examine the critical factors associated with successful collaboration and explore the importance of the geo-cultural context in understanding the conduct of inter-firm collaboration. The conceptual framework draws on two main sources – Storper|s concept of ||conventions|| of identity and participation and Lorenz|s classification of different types of knowledge. These are used to indicate the kinds and sources of adjustments required for successful collaboration.

Keywords: research; collaboration; innovation; conventions; types of knowledge.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2003.003088

International Journal of Technology Management, 2003 Vol.25 No.1/2, pp.34-50

Published online: 11 Jul 2003 *

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