Cooperative Strategies in Non-High-Tech New Ventures: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Cooperative strategies are of growing interest in entrepreneurship. Current research focuses on high-tech companies, but less is known about cooperative activities in non-high-tech businesses. Differences in distinct competencies based on technology suggest that lessons from high-tech companies may not fully apply to non-high-tech companies. This research explores the nature, extent, and approaches to cooperative strategies in non-high-tech new ventures, utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods. Survey data is analyzed to assess usage and characteristics of cooperative strategies. Results show that few companies used cooperative strategies and these were not central to core operations. Field interviews comparing three non-high-tech and three high-tech new ventures examine motives and approaches to cooperative strategies. For all six cases, resource constraints motivated usage of cooperative strategies and all had cooperative arrangements with competitors. However, goals and approaches to cooperative strategies differed between non-high-tech and high-tech businesses. Findings suggest future research directions.