The goal of this dissertation was to explore the key factors and managerial mechanisms that influence performance of inter-organizational collaborative teams. Specifically, this research addressed five key constructs: inter-organizational collaboration relationships, project characteristics, team process, managerial mechanisms, and team performance of inter-organizational collaborative teams. Data for this study was collected via semi-structured interviews within two stages. In the first stage, interviews were done with the executives, focusing on the inter-organizational relationships, managerial mechanisms and the performance of the inter-organizational collaborative team from strategic perspectives. The next stage involved with interviews with the team members to collect the information regarding team process more thoroughly. The results suggested that (1) Inter-organizational relationships positively affect the inter-organizational team process. (2) Project Characteristics also play a role in the team process of inter-organizational collaboration. (3) Inter-organizational team process have positively influence on the performance of inter-organizational collaborative teams. (4) Managerial mechanisms, such as mutual learning, and organizational culture, also have influences on the team process and team performance of inter-organizational collaborative teams. However, we had few findings about the team incentives program or any other formal mechanisms that promote the team process and team performance.

This thesis aims to develop meanings of sustainable programme development. Policies are often introduced to solve societal problems identified by a government agency or some other organization. In order to realize the intentions behind the policy it is common that one or several policy driven projects are funded with large sums of money. By funding policy driven projects, the funding organizations expect that the projects can support a sustainable change of practice that can solve or at least decrease the societal problem. Research shows that policy driven projects and programmes often fail to realize the intentions behind poli-cies. Hence, it is uncertain to what extent policy driven projects contribute to a sustainable change of practice.

Purpose The purpose of this case study is to understand how inter-organizational knowledge management is conducted in an economic association by analysing how different actor representatives perceive the inter-organizational collaboration. Design/methodology/approach The method of this study is qualitative, with a single case study of an economic association in Dalarna, Sweden. The interviews were of semi-structured character. A total of nine respondents were interviewed; four respondents from private member organizations, three respondents from public member organizations and two respondents employed by the economic association. Findings and conclusion Six themes were found that together answers the purpose of this study. These themes are personalization, codification, collaboration, conditions, capabilities and challenges. The personalization strategy from the knowledge management framework by Hansen et al (1999) is suggested to be the main strategy in the case of the economic association, while the codification strategy is the supporting strategy working in relation to each other. In order to use those strategies in this interorganizational context, four other themes are added in a model created by the authors of this study. The four additional themes need to be taken in consideration and as the theme capabilities points out; the inter-organizational collaboration gives not only challenges, but also opportunities for the participating organizations. Furthermore, the conditions and the reasons for collaborating can be used for improving the structure of an inter-organizational collaboration. Practical Information A Swedish economic association can be described as a legal entity which involves a minimum of three partners, with a common interest and where all members of the economic association are required to participate in the activities of the economic association. Originality/Value This study contributes to the field of inter-organizational knowledge management by providing insight from a Swedish economic association perspective. There is an apparent gap pointed out between theory driven and practical driven research, where this single case study aims to contribute to the practical field of applying inter-organizational knowledge management perspective into a real case scenario. The case is particularly interesting to study since there are 33 organizations involved in knowledge management, with knowledge bases of both private and public sectors, small- and middlesized organizations and from different branches.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka hur tjänstemän hos socialtjänsten och polisen uppfattar samverkan mellan de olika organisationerna, mer specifikt samverkan som metod i arbetet mot brott i nära relationer. Studien ämnade även undersöka hur de uppfattar myndigheternas roller i ett sådant samarbete. För att undersöka detta genomfördes semistrukturerade intervjuer med tjänstemän från båda myndigheterna, i både förstadiet och efter genomförandet av ett samverkansprojekt mot brott i nära relationer. Studiens resultat visade att idén om att samverka mot brott i nära relationer har ett starkt stöd bland tjänstemännen hos båda myndigheterna. De faktorer som uppfattades som viktigast för en effektiv samverkan är en tydlig ansvarsfördelning mellan aktörerna, att förankra metoden i hela organisationen, en administrativ samordning och att samverkan får tillräckliga resurser. Resultatet visade också att tjänstemännen hos de båda myndigheterna hade en tydlig bild av den egna yrkesrollen, men att en osäkerhet hos aktören kan dyka upp när hen förväntas agera på ett vis som inte är i linje med den egna uppfattningen om rollen. / The aim of the study was to investigate how officials of the social services and the police perceived inter-organizational collaboration. More specifically inter-organizational collaboration as a method in the work against intimate partner violence. The study also aimed to examine how they perceive the authorities' roles in such cooperation. In order to investigate this, semi-structured interviews have been carried out with officials from both authorities. The interviews were conducted both in the preliminary stage and after a collaborative project against intimate partner violence. The study's result showed that the idea of cooperating against this type of problems has a strong support among the officials of both authorities. Factors that are perceived as the most important for effective collaboration are a clear division of responsibilities between the actors; to have the collaboration on an institutional level, instead of interpersonal, administrative coordination and ensuring that the collaboration has sufficient resources. The result also showed that the officials of the two authorities had a clear conception what constitutes as their professional role. That clear conception can create an uncertainty within the actor when he or she is expected to act in a manner that is not in line with his or her perception of the role.

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o processo de transmissão de conhecimentos em arranjos produtivos locais por intermédio da experiência do aglomerado inter-organizacional calçadista de Birigui (SP). Na estrutura teórico, foram abordados temas referentes à contextualização da formação de redes entre empresas, as concepções de alianças e parcerias, o capital social e a abordagem institucional. Através da formulação de um questionário que compreendeu os processos de transmissão de conhecimentos e abrangeu os elementos necessários para se impulsionar esta transferência, estabeleceu-se um roteiro de entrevista que foi utilizado em pesquisa de campo a fim de se estudar por meio de entrevistas em profundidade a experiência de Birigüi. Os principais resultados obtidos foram de que o caso de Birigüi carece de um aparato institucional capaz de respaldar um ambiente propício à transmissão de conhecimentos e que o tradicionalismo dos empresários da região atua como empecilho para geração de uma consciência de coletividade e de inovação, fatores estes fundamentais para uma transferência de conhecimentos eficiente. / This study has the objective to analyse the knowledge trasmission process in cluster arrangements through the Birigüi?s (SP) shoes arrangement experience. In thetheoretical framework, it was accosted themes related to context of networks formation, alliances and partnerships conceptions, social capital and institutional approach. Through a questionnaire that comprehends the knowledge transmission process and that included fundamental elements to support this kind of transfer, it was set up an interview guide used in field research in order to study by deep interviews the Birigüi?s experience. The main results collected were that the Birigüi?s case lacks an institutional pomp able to support a propitious environment to knowledge transmission and that local managers? traditionalism act as a barrier to the generation of collective sense and innovation, fundamental factors to and efficient knowledge transfer.

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o processo de transmissão de conhecimentos em arranjos produtivos locais por intermédio da experiência do aglomerado inter-organizacional calçadista de Birigui (SP). Na estrutura teórico, foram abordados temas referentes à contextualização da formação de redes entre empresas, as concepções de alianças e parcerias, o capital social e a abordagem institucional. Através da formulação de um questionário que compreendeu os processos de transmissão de conhecimentos e abrangeu os elementos necessários para se impulsionar esta transferência, estabeleceu-se um roteiro de entrevista que foi utilizado em pesquisa de campo a fim de se estudar por meio de entrevistas em profundidade a experiência de Birigüi. Os principais resultados obtidos foram de que o caso de Birigüi carece de um aparato institucional capaz de respaldar um ambiente propício à transmissão de conhecimentos e que o tradicionalismo dos empresários da região atua como empecilho para geração de uma consciência de coletividade e de inovação, fatores estes fundamentais para uma transferência de conhecimentos eficiente. / This study has the objective to analyse the knowledge trasmission process in cluster arrangements through the Birigüi?s (SP) shoes arrangement experience. In thetheoretical framework, it was accosted themes related to context of networks formation, alliances and partnerships conceptions, social capital and institutional approach. Through a questionnaire that comprehends the knowledge transmission process and that included fundamental elements to support this kind of transfer, it was set up an interview guide used in field research in order to study by deep interviews the Birigüi?s experience. The main results collected were that the Birigüi?s case lacks an institutional pomp able to support a propitious environment to knowledge transmission and that local managers? traditionalism act as a barrier to the generation of collective sense and innovation, fundamental factors to and efficient knowledge transfer.

This is a study of inter-organizational relations, especially of control relations, applied to Swedish state enterprise.The growing interdependence between different parts of society as well as the dynamic environment of organizations bring forward a need for new patterns of interaction. Organizations of very dissimilar types have to cooperate in new areas. The state enterprises have an external environment that exhibit both political and economic characteristics. The control relation, to the owner, may involve both types.The study consists of three parts. Part one present an initial theoretical framework, used in an empirical study (part two). This shows the need for a further development. A revised and enlarged framework is presented in part three. In the initial framework the concept of control, within a systems approach, was the focus of investigation. The approach was traditional and pointed to the importance of structures and of characteristics of the decision process. Control of two levels was discussed — organizational control and control of specific situation. The model suggested was mainly developed for description of control of state enterprises.The empirical study was conducted as an interview study in nine state enterprises. The interviews were of a semi-structured type and the purpose was to gain new insights as to the conditions of control of organizations. The enterprises were selected according to mission, three types were identified: strictly political tasks, strictly economic tasks and a mixture of tasks. The findings were that organizational control differed according to task so that political task gives a more strict control: The differences in control of ongoing avtivity was less pronounced. The most striking finding was the relevance of expectations of control. The empirical study led to demands for a more actor-oriented approach.This was the starting point for the revised and enlarged framework. A review of studies of relations in the systems approach and within a more actor-oriented approach was made. The role of the actor in the organization is discussed. The importance of structural conditions and of process in control is also analyzed. This review and analysis forms the basis for a somewhat different approach to relations. A concept of complexity is developed. This concept involve the total variation in a situation. Complexity is a main factor in perceptions of uncertainty < Coping with uncertainty gives power, which is the prerequisite of control.These concepts are used to form a game approach to control. Control is considered as the result of a game of power. Two types of games are presented — for organizations as a whole and for situations of a deviant character. In both types actors and processes are of prime interest. / digitalisering@umu

ABSTRACT Inter-organizational Relationship Portfolio Management: A Digital Enablement Perspective of Process Alignment and Process Innovativeness BY Xinlin Tang July 25, 2007 Committee Chair: Dr. Arun Rai Major Academic Unit: Center for Process Innovation Inter-organizational relationship (IR) has been considered a strategic asset that can help firms achieve both exploitation and exploration benefits. The capability to manage inter-organizational relationships, or a firm’s “relational capability” (Dyer and Singh 1998), is considered strategically crucial in order to compete in the contemporary business world. However, there are significant challenges that must be addressed to establish this capability. First, striking a balance between exploitation and exploration benefits (March 1991) through IR management is especially challenging due to the uniqueness embedded in each relationship (Lee 2004). Second, in order to serve a specific strategic purpose, firms usually need to maintain a relationship portfolio, or to be involved in multiple, simultaneous relationships that vary from arm’s length, transaction-based arrangements to close, collaborative partnerships (Cannon and Perreault 1999; Dyer et al. 1998). This has made IR relationship management even more difficult since relationship portfolios cannot be effectively managed by a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. Instead, different strategies and process capabilities need to be developed, based on the strategic segmentation of the relationships and the unique requirements of each relationship (Dyer et al. 1998). Though it has been suggested that process alignment capability is necessary to obtain exploitation benefits, and process innovativeness capability is needed for exploration benefits, these two processes have been considered to be contradictory (e.g., Adler and Goldoftas 1999; Teece et al. 1997). Firms are challenged to pursue these two types of process capabilities simultaneously, or to become ambidextrous organizations (Benner and Tushman 2003). Yet, in this context, how should firms operating in different environments manage the “process alignment - process innovativeness” paradox across their IR portfolios with dominant upstream and downstream partners to realize gains in competitive performance? In addition, how should they structure their business-to-business information technology assets to establish a digital platform that supports both process innovativeness and process alignment capabilities across their IR portfolio? We argue that B2B digital platform ambidexterity must be developed to support an organization that exhibits both process alignment and process innovativeness, i.e., an ambidextrous organization. B2B digital platform ambidexterity represents the digital platform’s capability to simultaneously integrate and reconfigure IT resources and assets to support the requirements of an IR portfolio. By combining the existing process alignment perspective of IT business value and real options theory, we propose that B2B digital platform ambidexterity can create value through two mechanisms: (i) by enabling process alignment across the IR portfolio to generate position exploitation benefits and (ii) by enabling process innovativeness for both offering flexibility and partnering flexibility to produce option exploration benefits. The proposed research model was tested based on data collected through a multi-industry survey. Data were collected for both supplier relationship portfolios and channel partner relationship portfolios at the level of the main product line. Measurement instruments were developed through standard procedures (Churchill 1979; Gerbing and Anderson 1988; Straub 1989). The questionnaires went through two-stage Q sorting, were reviewed by panels of academic professionals and practitioners for content validity, and were then pre-tested by procurement professionals and sales professionals prior to survey administration. After data collection, traditional procedures were applied for scale validation. Safeguards against common method bias were developed through the recommended procedural remedies (Podasakoff et al. 2003) during the research design process. Its effects were further investigated using the Harmon's one-factor test for common method variance after the data collection phase (Podasakoff and Organ 1986). Then, the hypotheses were tested and analyzed using Partial Least Squares and the implications for theory and practice were discussed. The manuscript concludes with directions to future research.

The purpose of this bachelor paper is to analyze the different technologies used for supporting inter-organizational project work and how these technologies influence the project’s overall success. The results of this research have proved that the main impact ePM tools (e-Project Management tools) have upon inter-organizational projects are in terms of time-savings and easiness of communication when in need for communicating abroad with different business partners. Various types of collaboration tools can help the communication process between organizations and provide the project participants with the means of creating and supporting a collaborative environment. Other perceived benefits of ePM tools have been resulted including: reduce project costs due to time-savings and quality of information which lowers the risks for deficiency occurrences; improve the decision-making process; improve internal and external communication; facilitate knowledge sharing and expertise exchange; and create an agile business environment characterized by innovation, flexibility, faster market reaction and ability to work efficiently. Global time zones and communication skills are challenges to creating an efficient collaborative inter-organizational environment.

Purpose:The purpose of this master dissertation is to examine current research on trust and its building process in business to business relationship from marketing and behavioral sciences perspectives. Research Questions: (1) What relationships do inter-organizational trust and inter-personal trust have? (2) How trust is built from perspectives of business and behavioral sciences? (3) What benefits and limitations do trust researches in behavioral sciences have, comparing to trust research in marketing? Research Design/Methodology: Qualitative research conducted a literature review between business administration and behavioral sciences, and interdisciplinary interviews with nine scholars and four business managers. Meanwhile, criteria are generated to ensure research quality. Findings: The finding of this research claims that interpersonal and interorganizational trusts are linked with organizational learning theory. Trust-building process is a social cognition sequence, which developed based on theory of social cognition and social interaction. A conceptual framework of trust-building process on the basis of social cognition was developed. Managerial Implications: This research suggests that mangers need to improve companies’ learning and cognition capability in order to identify new business opportunities, reduce the risk on mistakenly trust ineptitude partners, and increase companies’ competitive advantages.