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Building an inter-organizational community strategy in an innovative business environment

Ahuluheluw, Santos (2016) Building an inter-organizational community strategy in an innovative business environment.

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Abstract:This explorative research aims to identify the critical elements for developing a community communication approach for innovative high tech companies. Kennispark Twente is a high tech business cluster which suffers from low interaction rates between the companies, dropping visitor rates for network activities and a scattered information and communication landscape due to the highly fragmented business environment. These problems are detrimental to the possible benefits of being a high tech business cluster. In order to tackle these problems Foundation Kennispark Twente is interested in the possibilities of a community communication approach. The research was divided in a qualitative network analysis and a semi-open interview section in which proximity domains and needs assessment were discussed. The network analysis was conducted on the whole network level. From the literature, community building theory was abstracted and adapted to form a framework in which the whole network analysis; proximity theory and needs assessment was fitted. The results suggest that a community approach is an appropriate strategy for increasing interaction between companies and provide the companies a tool to stimulate their innovative activities. Furthermore the research supports the view that geographical proximity is neither a sufficient or necessary condition for inter-organizational interaction and knowledge sharing. Organizational and technological proximity are the primary reasons for initiating and maintain contact and should be the basis on which the community is built.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Communication Studies BSc (56615)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/71594
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