The evolution of collaborative practices in small-firm networks: a qualitative analysis of four Brazilian cases

摘要

Despite the relevance of cooperative strategies in a networked world, little attention has been paid to the management of Small-Firm Networks (SFNs) and to the types of practices they require. This paper focuses on understanding the collaborative practices related to strategy, structure, process and coordination that emerge from the evolutionary path of Brazilian SFNs. The research followed a qualitative approach, with analysis focused on the collaborative practices adopted by four SFNs and their evolution pattern between 2009 and 2014. The results show that SFNs are dynamic entities that change over time and either the originally established collaborative practices need to be adjusted or new ones must emerge. As a managerial implication, the paper advances the description of collaborative practices used by SFNs and contributes to the sparse literature on management of inter-organisational relationships by showing how this management necessarily differs from the predominant paradigm of hierarchical and bureaucratic management.