(
2007)
Jorge Pinho de Sousa; Rui Patrício; Luís Carneiro; António Lucas Soares; Adília Isabel Alves; Ricardo Madureira
This paper presents the preliminary findings of a research project aiming at the
definition of the conditions required for the creation and management of high-performance
collaborative business networks in Northern Portugal. Given the industrial context of the region
the emergence of such networks would be innovative in itself. The project adopted a multiplecase
study research strategy, based on data from 40 semi-structured interviews. The
preliminary results of the study include: 1) operational definitions based on an extensive
literature review; 2) a conceptual framework for the analysis of high-performance collaborative
networks; and 3) recommendations for the creation and on-going management of such networks.