Title: Inter-departmental collaboration and new product development success: a study on the collaboration between marketing and R&D in Spanish high-technology firms

Authors: Eulogio Cordon-Pozo, Victor J. Garcia-Morales, J. Alberto Aragon-Correa

Addresses: School of Economics and Business, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, s.n., Granada 18071, Spain. ' School of Economics and Business, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, s.n., Granada 18071, Spain. ' University of Granada (Spain); Rotterdam-Erasmus University, The Netherlands

Abstract: This research paper presents an analysis model formed by 12 hypotheses containing predictions about the influence that collaboration between the R&D and marketing departments will have on new product development success. The hypotheses also analyse how different variables related to the organisation|s structure, work climate and business context affect the perception and development of the collaboration between these two departments. The model|s contingent approach along with the joint study of interrelated variables; thus, allows us to make a significant contribution to the issue under analysis. The hypotheses have been verified empirically with a sample of 104 Spanish firms belonging to various high-technology activities. The results obtained support the proposed hypotheses and highlight the relevant role of variables related to organisational climate as opposed to that of variables associated with organisational structure. The influence of business context factors has also proved to be important for final results.

Keywords: product innovation; inter-departmental collaboration; functional integration; high technology; contingent analysis; new product development; NPD success; Spain; marketing; research and development; R&D; organisational structure; organisational climate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2006.009229

International Journal of Technology Management, 2006 Vol.35 No.1/2/3/4, pp.52 - 79

Published online: 13 Mar 2006 *

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