Title: An empirical assessment of a learning and Knowledge Management typology for Research Joint Ventures

Authors: Elena Revilla, Juan Acosta, Joseph Sarkis

Addresses: Instituto de Empresa, Maria de Molina, 12, 5., 28006-Madrid, Spain. ' Departamento de Analisis Economico, Instituto Universitario de Desarrollo Regional, Universidad de La Laguna, Campus de Guajara, 38071 La Laguna Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. ' Graduate School of Management, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610-1477, USA

Abstract: As innovation and technology management grow in complexity, the need for inter-organisational cooperation increases. A part of this cooperation requires the understanding of how Knowledge Management (KM) and learning processes may function to support a successful research and development collaboration. To further this understanding, we use a contingency theory to examine the influence of the locus of a Research Joint Venture (RJV) on KM. To do this, we introduce a typology for RJVs to help categorise different KM efforts within a RJV environment. The typology is based on two dimensions: the locus of the RJV knowledge and the KM approach. Using a broad European database, 98 RJV projects are used to evaluate the typology and test two hypotheses related to these relationships. Implications for research and management of these types of projects are also introduced.

Keywords: research joint ventures; RJV; knowledge management; KM; learning processes; collaboration; contingency theory; innovation; technology management; research and development; R&D.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2006.009241

International Journal of Technology Management, 2006 Vol.35 No.1/2/3/4, pp.329 - 348

Published online: 13 Mar 2006 *

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