Interfirm Cooperation among Small Manufacturing Firms
通过访谈网络经纪人、小企业协会和参与合作的小企业，研究了小制造企业间合作的关键特征、动机、协调与占有问题，发现经纪人主导的网络与企业自发网络存在明显区别。
This article evaluates interfirm cooperation among small manufacturing firms. Networks of small firms work together on numerous activities such as marketing, procurement or manufacturing; however, are certain `enablers' necessary for successful cooperation? To answer this question networking activities among small manufacturers were investigated. Over the course of 12 months 23 in-depth interviews were conducted: 7 with network brokers (network brokers identify opportunities, bring small firms together and facilitate cooperation), 2 with small firm business associations with an acknowledged stance on the benefits of small firm cooperation and 14 with small firms engaged in interfirm cooperation. These semi-structured discussions explored the key characteristics of successful networks, the motives for initiating a cooperative relationship, how firms managed appropriation concerns and how they coordinated tasks.The findings indicate a clear demarcation between networking activities that are led by brokers and those that are created of the participating firms' own volition.