If you are interested in alliances, networks, clusters and other modern forms of inter-firm cooperation you are in the right place: this field is a unique feature of the Department of Management at the School of Business & Economics at Freie Universität Berlin.

Inter-firm networks are a traditional and yet modern organisational form. In practice they appear as strategic alliances, regional and global networks, joint ventures, value-adding partnerships, and research and development consortia. Their forms and practices are at the center of our research group that aims at relating theoretical and empirical research on inter-firm networks. The focus of theoretical research is to develop a theory of inter-firm networking which is based upon the structuration theory of Anthony Giddens and which informs management practice as much as empirical research. Empirical research is oriented on the genesis und management of inter-firm networks, to study their importance for economic performance and technological development.

Our recent research activities focus on building a managerial concept of „reflexive network development“, which relates the strategic conduct of firms in networks to the specific conditions of organisational fields, such as regions and industries. Special attention is paid to the impact of historical conditions on ongoing processes, for example on the development of organisational and technological paths. At the moment, this concept is being elaborated for the fields of cultural industries and optical technologies.

In case you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 
Prof. Dr. Jörg Sydow