Centrality of customer and supplier interaction in innovation

Abstract

This article evaluates the assumption that interaction within customer–supplier relationships is always the pivotal point for innovation. The article proposes that the relevance of customer and supplier relationships depends on the nature and maturity of the technology being developed, thus exploring the potential variation in customer–supplier interactions during different phases of the innovation life cycle. The article commences with a brief introduction to the literature and then uses the findings from a survey to illustrate the premise of the article. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings and outlines the plans for the next stage of the research.