Case studies on collaboration, technology and performance factors in business networks

Abstract

This paper presents part of the findings of a research project aiming at characterising high-performance collaborative business networks and at defining the conditions required for their creation and management. The project adopted a multiple case study research strategy and three different business networks are presented in this paper. Empirical studies have been performed in Northern Portugal. The results of the study include operational definitions based on a comprehensive literature review, a conceptual reference framework for the analysis of high-performance collaborative networks and recommendations for the creation and management of such networks.

Keywords:

• collaborative networks
• case studies
• performance management

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all the elements of the RCED project team and the members of the review committee for their valuable contributions and hints. The financial and technical support from CCDR-N (Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte) is gratefully acknowledged. Moreover, the availability of companies and individual experts to participate in the data collection phase was also of key importance to this study.