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./div

This is a clear and comprehensive survey of strategic alliances which presents different disciplinary perspectives and numerous examples from the corporate world. The text has been thoroughly revised and updated, taking account of new theoretical models and its coverage of case studies has been extended.

In a highly globalised trade and investment environment, businesses in regional areas must learn to take advantage of the benefits that stem from their geographical location. This book explains the immense value regional businesses bring to local communities and to Australia as a whole through case studies. The case studies are diverse in nature and highlight how regional businesses utilise their competitive advantage to introduce innovative practices and use local expertise, knowledge, skills, and networks to benefit from local social capital in a synergetic manner. The case studies in the book will help readers better understand the processes of industrial localisation. The examples of how innovative regional businesses have used innovative practices, local resource leverage, social and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of international markets to develop and expand their businesses will provide insights into how regional businesses can achieve growth and secure jobs in an innovative and sustained manner.

This book discusses the growing use and importance of frugal innovation in society. Frugal innovation looks at innovating in a cost-efficient manner by taking into account available resources. This book explains how frugal innovation is different to other types of innovation and how frugal innovation offers a creative solution to issues of sustainability and the circular economy. The book approaches innovation by taking into account the stakeholders and how companies can innovate efficiently in an inclusive manner. It presents successful cases of companies that have innovated frugally, making the book an engaging read for anyone who is interested to learn more.

With Strategic Networks: The Art of Japanese Interfirm Cooperation, you will examine the structure and dynamics of Japanese business networks and discover successful Japanese business practices and opportunities. For professors of business and Japanese studies, as well as managers of firms throughout the world, this book analyzes new and innovative networks through case examples from the Japanese automobile, chemical, and electronics industries. Strategic Networks offers you insight into the management of these company partnerships and how they work to increase the competitiveness of businesses and allow firms within the network to share important knowledge. Unknown to many, several of the management concepts that made Japanese companies successful in the 1980s, such as total quality control (TQC) and continuing improvement processes (CIP), were only a part of the formula for a successful business. This book discusses types of Japanese strategic networks, another element of Japan’s thriving business structure of today, how they are influenced by Japanese cultural values and state interventions, and why all of the businesses involved are benefiting from these networks. Evaluating the theoretical foundation of these business relationships and intercompany cooperation, Strategic Networks offers you up-to-date information on the structures of Japanese firms by: examining Karl Popper’s ideas on critical rationalism and how Japanese companies follow his theories of problem solving, questioning, and developing knowledge explaining the system, growth, and game theories in order to completely understand a network and all of its facets exploring the ability to work with and navigate strategic networks when they are managed without strict plans or with unforeseen circumstances recognizing how networks enable the activation of interpreneurs to develop future visions, innovations, and responsible leadership for the network Complete with illustrations to emphasize important points along with insight into networks in the twenty-first century, Strategic Networks offers information and research that will help you understand how Japanese networks operate and how Japanese firms are conducting business differently. As a result, you will learn how the changing values in Japanese society influence company structures and procedures and come to understand the unique workings and effective structures of strategic networks.

Collaborative Networks is a fast developing area, as shown by the already large number of diverse real-world implemented cases and the dynamism of its related involved research community. Being recognized as the most focused scientific and technical conference on Collaborative Networks, PRO-VE continues to offer the opportunity for presentation and discussion of both the latest research developments as well as the practical application case studies.

Implementing co-operative production networks to secure and foster future competitiveness on the global market is a major strategic target for many small- and medium-sized enterprises. The text starts begins with a look at strategic management before moving onto operational product development and operations execution, and in doing so provides a detailed overview of the different key issues of setting up strategic production networks. Management concepts, the required information technology as well as best practices are introduced and discussed by leading researchers from Germany, Switzerland and China. The book is ideally suited for managers responsible for setting up global or regional co-operative production networks as well as researchers and students.