Organizational challenges when collaborating in product innovation projects

Paper in proceeding, 2016

Nowadays, firms are often involving external organisations into what previously was limited to internal work. Supplier collaboration in new product development is one such example, where suppliers contribute with new technologies and competencies that the customer does not possess. Hence, firms can incorporate new technologies into their products. This paper is based on an on-going case study of a collaborative product innovation project between two large firms. The firms are leading within their respective market. The study focuses on technological and relational challenges in the project. These challenges are present, not only between the partners, but also within the customer. A challenging aspect is when the project is transferred from one organisation to another within the customer. Challenges can be divided into a time perspective, first challenges during concept development, following challenges during the handover from concept development to product development. Results highlights a number of challenges in collaborative product innovation project.