Title: Relationships, networks and innovation – squaring the circle?

Authors: Rene Chester Goduscheit

Addresses: Centre for Industrial Production, Aalborg University, Fibigerstraede 16, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark

Abstract: The virtue of interorganisational networks as the locus of innovation is widely acknowledged. However, it is often neglected that interorganisational collaboration does not automatically lead to idea generation and the exploration of new possibilities. On the basis of a case study from the Danish energy sector, two specific aspects are addressed: 1 the trade-off between explorative innovation and network efficiency; 2 the effect of innovating in a network, in which the organisations have established relationships. The case study illustrates that a network based on existing relationships was working efficiently but was lacking the ability to explore new possibilities. On the other hand, a comprehensive network consisting of |new| partners did not succeed in getting an outcome from the network.

Keywords: innovation; interorganisational networks; partnerships; knowledge management; collaboration; Denmark; energy sector; relationships.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLIC.2009.025044

International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, 2009 Vol.6 No.3, pp.257 - 271

Published online: 10 May 2009 *

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