TY - JOUR
T1 - Interfirm cooperation among small manufacturing firms
AU - Hanna, V.
AU - Walsh, K.
N1 - Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008/6/1
Y1 - 2008/6/1
N2 - This article evaluates interfirm cooperation among small manufacturing firms. Networks of small firms work together on numerous activities such as marketing, procurement or manufacturing; however, are certain 'enablers' necessary for successful cooperation? To answer this question networking activities among small manufacturers were investigated. Over the course of 12 months 23 in-depth interviews were conducted: 7 with network brokers (network brokers identify opportunities, bring small firms together and facilitate cooperation), 2 with small firm business associations with an acknowledged stance on the benefits of small firm cooperation and 14 with small firms engaged in interfirm cooperation. These semi-structured discussions explored the key characteristics of successful networks, the motives for initiating a cooperative relationship, how firms managed appropriation concerns and how they coordinated tasks. The findings indicate a clear demarcation between networking activities that are led by brokers and those that are created of the participating firms' own volition.
AB - This article evaluates interfirm cooperation among small manufacturing firms. Networks of small firms work together on numerous activities such as marketing, procurement or manufacturing; however, are certain 'enablers' necessary for successful cooperation? To answer this question networking activities among small manufacturers were investigated. Over the course of 12 months 23 in-depth interviews were conducted: 7 with network brokers (network brokers identify opportunities, bring small firms together and facilitate cooperation), 2 with small firm business associations with an acknowledged stance on the benefits of small firm cooperation and 14 with small firms engaged in interfirm cooperation. These semi-structured discussions explored the key characteristics of successful networks, the motives for initiating a cooperative relationship, how firms managed appropriation concerns and how they coordinated tasks. The findings indicate a clear demarcation between networking activities that are led by brokers and those that are created of the participating firms' own volition.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-43149096243&md5=8d9844d53f573dda32cfee76c3911d32
U2 - 10.1177/0266242608088740
DO - 10.1177/0266242608088740
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:43149096243
SN - 0266-2426
VL - 26
SP - 299
EP - 321
JO - International Small Business Journal
JF - International Small Business Journal
IS - 3
ER -