On cooperative inter-organisational relationships: historical grounds and levels of cooperation

Abstract

Significance of cooperative Inter-Organisational Relationships (IOR) has been highlighted recently from both practical and theoretical perspectives. Cooperation has emerged as an alternative for market and vertical integration strategies. Understanding of this phenomenon is extended in this paper by examination of the historical grounds and the fundamental causes of need to cooperate in business relationships. Deriving from different research streams a 3Cs model is derived for levels of cooperation. In addition, a classification of different concepts for levels, forms and objects of cooperation is suggested.