The dynamics of collaborative practices for knowledge creation in joint R&D projects

Abstract

Abstract Purpose We aim to elucidate how the dynamics of collaborative practices in research and development (R&D) projects occur and to reveal the main practices adopted in developing an ambidextrous project. The dynamics of R&D practices in knowledge creation arise from complementary practices of exploration and exploitation undertaken over the lifespan of an inter-organizational project that trigger an ambidextrous process of innovation. Design/methodology/approach This study involves interpretative guidance. We elaborate upon the history of the development of a collaborative R&D project in an intensive knowledge industry, the semiconductor industry, and use narrative as the methodological framework in a single case study with a processual approach. We conducted 65 interviews that were supported by secondary inventories of data that consisted of 167 files. Findings The type of collaborative practice adopted in a joint R&D project varies based on the stocks of knowledge required to make the concept a reality and also as a strategy of knowledge creation adopted in each project phase, ensuring a dynamic synthesis between tacit and explicit knowledge. We propose a three-dimensional model that accounts for the adoption of different practices throughout the life cycle of a collaborative ambidextrous R&D project. Practical implications We identified 19 collaborative practices of inter-organizational knowledge creation that ensure the dynamics of innovation using complementary exploration and exploitation approaches. Originality/Value This study makes important contributions to the relational view and the theory of knowledge creation, offering a contribution to understanding the origin of ambidextrous practices in knowledge creation throughout the life cycle of an R&D project.