Proceedings of the 19th International Academic Conference, Florence

DESIGNINIG COLLABORATIVE PROCESSES AMONG SMES. AN OVERVIEW OF INHIBITING AND MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS

ERIND HOTI, GENTIAN HOXHALLI

Abstract:

This paper scrutinizes the ground rules for designing collaborative processes by focusing on inter-organizational collaboration and considering collaboration as a process for improving the competitiveness of small and medium sized firms (SMEs). In a need to be more competitive and facing an ever more knowledge-based environment, SMEs must collaborate in order to stay competitive and easily adjust to new situations. Collaboration in itself is perceived as a dynamic process taking place among various actors who come together to jointly achieve a beneficial outcome. This paper provides an overview of the evidence on common motives and inhibiting factors for collaboration among SMEs based on a review of the evidence.

Keywords: Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), inter-organizational collaboration, collaborative processes, cooperation

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2015.019.060

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