Exploring uncertainties in collaborative product development: Managing customer-supplier collaborations

Journal article, 2019

The paper explores technological, commercial and organizational uncertainties of collaborative product development by customers and suppliers. The empirical data consist of an in-depth single case study of a collaborative product development project. The findings provide a deep insight into the dynamic character of different uncertainties in collaborative product development. The study shows the complexity of managing uncertainties as well as the importance of having not only well-functioning external collaboration but also internal cross-functional collaboration. The findings imply how uncertainties are interrelated and how one type of uncertainty influences other uncertainties, which affects how both customers and suppliers manage the relationship.