Title: How informal can you be? Trust and reciprocity within co-operative and collaborative relationships

Authors: Keith Dickson

Addresses: Department of Management Studies, Brunel University, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: This paper reports on the informal information exchanges that take place between co-operating firms. The paper brings together the findings from three separate research projects conducted over the last five years, which, in their different ways, discuss collaborative or co-operative links among small firms from different sectors. Contrasts in the various types of co-operative behaviour are examined. However, the main intention is to emphasize the varying levels of trust and reciprocity that are exhibited by the participating firms.

Keywords: inter-firm cooperation; research collaboration; innovation; trust; reciprocity; networks; collaborative relationships; informal information flows; information exchange; small firms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025422

International Journal of Technology Management, 1996 Vol.11 No.1/2, pp.129 - 139

Published online: 22 May 2009 *

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