Processes for Cooperation: Insights on Absorptive Capacity, Combinative Capabilities and Inter-organisational Routines from a Case Study on a Large Firm in Pharmaceuticals

Inter-institutional cooperation is becoming the norm for innovations putting at centre stage of research inquiry the organisational knowledge for establishing, coordinating and innovating through cooperation. Case study evidence depicts the development of systematic processes for partner identification and management of cooperative agreements. Researchers recognising potential partners would perceive the innovations that could stem through cooperation, assess the joint project for its scientific merits and participate in its coordination, communicating results between scientists and senior management. By experience accumulation the firm builds capabilities in cooperating, which it refines further by investing in deliberate learning processes. JEL codes: Z, -, 1 Paper to be presented at the DRUID Summer Conference 2007 on APPROPRIABILITY, PROXIMITY, ROUTINES AND INNOVATION Copenhagen, Denmark, June 18 20, 2007 Track Inter-firm Interaction: Networks, Projects and Clusters PROCESSES FOR COOPERATION: INSIGHTS ON ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY, COMBINATIVE CAPABILITIES AND INTER-ORGANISATIONAL ROUTINES FROM A CASE STUDY ON A LARGE FIRM IN PHARMACEUTICALS Abstract Inter-institutional cooperation is becoming the norm for innovations, which, puts at centre stage of research inquiry the organisational knowledge for establishing, coordinating and innovating through cooperation. Case study evidence depicts the development of systematic processes for partner identification and management of cooperative agreements. Researchers recognising potential partners would perceive the innovations that could stem through cooperation, would assess the joint project for its scientific merits and participate in its coordination, communicating results between scientists and senior management. Over time and through experience accumulation the firm builds capabilities in cooperating, which it refines further by investing in deliberate learning processes.Inter-institutional cooperation is becoming the norm for innovations, which, puts at centre stage of research inquiry the organisational knowledge for establishing, coordinating and innovating through cooperation. Case study evidence depicts the development of systematic processes for partner identification and management of cooperative agreements. Researchers recognising potential partners would perceive the innovations that could stem through cooperation, would assess the joint project for its scientific merits and participate in its coordination, communicating results between scientists and senior management. Over time and through experience accumulation the firm builds capabilities in cooperating, which it refines further by investing in deliberate learning processes.