Facilitating collaboration in the new product development process of science-based SMEs: a communities of practice perspective

PATTINSON, Steven, PREECE, David and DAVIES, Mark (2015). Facilitating collaboration in the new product development process of science-based SMEs: a communities of practice perspective. In: SOFI Seminar Series, Teesside University Business School, November 2015. (Unpublished)

[img]
Preview
PDF
Sofi Seminar Nov 2015.pdf - Draft Version
All rights reserved.

Download (489kB) | Preview
Official URL: http://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/research/social_fut...

Abstract

New product development innovation rarely, if ever, occurs through the ideas and actions of isolated individuals. It invariably requires collaboration between people with a range of skills, knowledge, contacts and experience. Initiating and developing collaboration can be challenging for SMEs, not least science-based ones, who are often unreceptive to knowledge sharing because of lack of trust, internal conflicts, motivation issues, limited resources and the absence of sharing mechanisms. We contend that communities of practice are a vehicle for networking and collaboration. Our findings contradict suggestions in the extant literature that lack of trust inhibits knowledge sharing and collaboration in SMEs. Indeed, our findings demonstrate that regular mutual engagement and the sharing of expertise internally with colleagues and externally with customers and suppliers, led to the emergence of a variety of trust-based communities of practice in the science-based SMEs, improving their ability to acquire new knowledge that influenced innovation and new product development.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Sheffield Business School Research Institute > Marketing and Strategy
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Sheffield Business School > Department of Management
Depositing User: Steven Pattinson
Date Deposited: 25 Jul 2016 09:12
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 15:32
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12596

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics