Co-developed knowhow assets in technology partnerships

Abstract

A general framework and empirical methodology for quantifying and characterizing co-developed knowhow assets built up in a technology partnership is developed. This framework and related hypotheses are tested on a US-Japanese co-development partnership project in the semiconductor industry. The resulting data and analysis demonstrate the usefulness of this approach for informing strategic and managerial decisions in areas ranging from technology sourcing, inter-firm transaction and governance costs and structuring multi-national co-development processes. The findings expand understanding of the project-level mechanisms underlying partnership learning and development processes, new process innovation and dynamic capabilities.<>