Global Business Networks and Cooperation within Supply Chain as a Strategy of High-Tech Companies’ Growth

摘要

The specificity of the operation profile of high-tech companies, including the necessity of \udoperating at the international scale may account for the fact that these companies may find in \udnetwork relationships, business networks and cooperation an essential determinant for growth \udand competitiveness. Foreign entities should be especially interesting business partners for high-\udtech companies, as they are often seen as representing more advanced knowledge, resources and \udexperience. The aim of the article is to point out to global business networks (i.e. including both \udlocal and foreign entities), and especially to cooperation within supply chain, as an important \udbasis for a\udgrowth strategy of a high-tech company. \udThe article adopts assumptions of the network approach as a concept of companies cooperation. \udAn analysis of the author’s own as well as secondary empirical research, with the focus on high-\udtech companies located in Poland is presented. In particular, the data from own research of 62 \udhigh-tech companies in Poland conducted in the first half of 2011 is analysed. It shows that the \udhigh-tech companies placing great importance on cooperation within supply chain demonstrate \uda higher growth and level of competitiveness than the companies which do not ascribe such \udimportance (bearing in mind that supply chain forms an important part of a business network).