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Global collaboration in knowledge intensive firms: The role of activity configurations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2017

Katja Maria Hydle  and
David M Brock
Katja Maria Hydle*
Affiliation:
Social Science, IRIS – International Research Institute of Stavanger, Oslo, Norway
David M Brock
Affiliation:
Department of Business Management, Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
*
Corresponding author: katja.hydle@iris.no
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Abstract

This paper discusses how transnational knowledge intensive firms manage complexity across multiple locations, integrating various functional specializations and catering to multifaceted customer demands. Practice theory is used to help us understand collaboration among experts across national borders. By exploring what experts do and analyzing their practices transnationally, different configurations to provide services were found. In total, six configuration types are identified: bilateral, trilateral, chain, star, network and co-location. These configurations differently relate to three interdependent axes: coordinated actions, interaction modes and spatial dimensions. The configurations expose the relevant integrative and responsive settings. The paper contributes to the international organization literature by extending, elaborating and providing examples of transnationality; and to practice theory by exposing shapes and qualitative complexity of transnational collaboration and service provision.

Keywords

activity configurationscollaborationknowledge intensive firms
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , July 2020 , pp. 519 - 535
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2017

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