- Managing Heterogeneity, Allocative Balance, and Behavioral and Technology Concerns in Competitive and Co-operative Interfirm Relationships. Capitolo 2, In - Edward Elgar (UK)

In this chapter it is maintained that firms select their partners among competitors aiming at two main goals: acquiring knowledge for a non-immediate innovation purpose, which mainly relies on knowledge sharing, and to a minor extent on knowledge creation, and whose main outcome is future technology development; and developing knowledge for a rapid innovation and a fast market entry with new products and services. Knowledge sharing and creation processes constitute difficult activities, whose accomplishment entails the identification of some critical factors: heterogeneity in each partner’s knowledge base; allocation trade-offs between sharing and creating activities; and behavioral concerns related to partners’ commitment and rent appropriation attempts.