Innovation-sharing across a supply network: barriers to collaboration

Abstract

We explore the impact of innovation nature and contextual factors on innovation-sharing in a collaborative supply network within the utilities sector. In particular, we look at innovation-sharing between the first-tier supply partners maintaining and replacing the asset base of a utility company. Szulanski's ‘knowledge stickiness’ is used as a guiding conceptual framework. We use a mixed-method approach combining interviews, conventional survey and social network analysis survey. A key aspect of the findings is the behaviours resulting from the use of performance measurement and the partners’ motives which are influenced, amongst other things, by competition of the collaborators in other arenas. Performance measurement and innovation characteristics were identified as factors reducing the effectiveness of sharing. In addition, the programme management lifecycle emerged as a substantial influence on sharing behaviours.

Keywords:

• organisational networks
• innovation-sharing
• performance management

Acknowledgements

The authors thank staff at company Y and the corresponding CPs for their time and for allowing access during each of the three PM periods, in particular during period 1.