Cooperative and Networking Strategies in Small Business

Editors: Marta Peris-Ortiz, João J. Ferreira



Presents cutting-edge research and best practices of cooperative and networking strategies in small business

Provides cooperative strategy concepts and analytical techniques

Covers topics such as green innovation, social commerce, and regional entrepreneurship

The book aims to collect the most recent research and best practices in the cooperative and networking small business field identifying new theoretical models and describing the relationship between cooperation and networks in the small business strategy context. It examines different concepts and analytical techniques better understand the links between cooperative strategies and networks in small business. It also studies the existing economic conditions of network and strategic implications to small business from the point of view of their internal and external consistency.

Cooperation and networks is a fashionable topic. It is receiving increasing attention in popular management publications, as well as specialized academic journals. Cooperation between firms and industries is a means of leveraging and aggregating knowledge also generating direct benefits in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. Various options and decisions made within the framework of strategic alliances may be identified and differentiated. For example, it has been argued that R&D cooperation between competing firms also facilitates the search for incremental efficiency gains and is thus a competitive advantage. In parallel with a theoretical acceptance of the importance of a sustained competitive advantage to formulate strategy, there is a growing understanding that cooperative and networking behavior among small firms is at the root of many success stories in today's small business management. This condition requires an effort to develop a study of both aspects of cooperation and networks as compatible, complementary facets of a unique reality. In short, the cooperative and networking relationships of a small business can be the source of its competitive advantage. Enhancement of local resources and capabilities for the generation and dissemination of knowledge is still an issue for defining public policies in many countries.Featuring contributions covering such topics as green innovation, social commerce, university cooperation networks, and regional entrepreneurship, this book provides a comprehensive and richly illustrated study of cooperation and networks in small business that will be pertinent to students, academics, professionals, scholars, and policy makers.

Table of contents

Front Matter

Cooperation and Networks in Small Business Strategy: An Overview

Cooperation and Coopetition in SME Networks: A Bibliometric Study

Determinants of University Cooperation Networks as a Mechanism for Regional Development: The Case of Beira Interior (Portugal)

Cooperation and Networks in Small Wineries: A Case Study of Rutherglen, Australia

The Contribution of KIBS to Innovation and Competitiveness in Business Networks

Relationship Learning Strategy as a Mechanism of Network and the Effectiveness of Green Innovation

Connecting Funding to Entrepreneurs: A Profile of the Main Crowdfunding Platforms

Geographies of Growth: Comparing Oxfordshire, a Core High-Tech Region in the UK, with an Emerging High-Tech Region—The Centro of Portugal

Hedonic and Utilitarian Effects of the Adoption and Use of Social Commerce

Knowledge Creation in Temporary Organizations

Collaborative Networks Between Corporate Universities, Customers, and SMEs: Integrating Strategy Towards Value Creation

Back Matter