Fit and complementarity: cognitive distance and combined competence as predictors of co-operative R&D projects' outcomes in Europe

Laurent Zibell and Peter M. Allen

No 09-073, ZEW Discussion Papers from ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Abstract: This article considers cognitive distance and combined competence as predictors of concrete outcomes in co-operative Research and Development projects. The operationalisation is based upon a dedicated survey, answered by matched pairs of projects managers in partnering organisations, addressing technical and scientific competence, R&D management competence and cultural features. Empirical validation was performed on 92 projects based in France, Germany and the United Kingdom in the industry of electronics and telecommunications equipment. Selected dimensions of the cognitive distance and of combined competence being developed appear to be better predictors of concrete project outcomes than geographic distance, differences in organisation size or in legal status.

Keywords: Cognitive distance; Competence; Capability; Cooperation; R&D (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L24 L25 M14 O31 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ino, nep-mic, nep-neu and nep-ppm
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:zewdip:09073

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