Title: Management dilemmas in innovative supplier networks

Authors: Marikka Heikkilä; Pasi Sajasalo; Jukka Heikkilä; Mikko Pohjola

Addresses: Centre for Collaborative Research, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland ' School of Business and Economics, Jyväskylä University, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland ' Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland ' Centre for Collaborative Research, Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland

Abstract: This paper focuses on the challenges in managing innovation within supply networks. We present an empirical study on innovation collaboration between a focal company and its supply network of small and medium sized enterprises. By analysing the case from the viewpoints of the focal company, the suppliers and investors we point out three controversial issues in innovation management within the supply network: intellectual property rights, partnering versus competition, and commitment versus independency. Furthermore, we analyse the suppliers' positions with a purchasing portfolio model and present implications for innovation management practices in supply chains.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; innovation management; co-innovation; supply chain collaboration; coopetition; supply networks; value networks; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; intellectual property rights; IPR; partnering; commitment; independency; suppliers; purchasing portfolio model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2016.078693

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2016 Vol.9 No.5, pp.616 - 635

Received: 16 Jan 2015
Accepted: 02 Jul 2015
Published online: 01 Sep 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article