Typologies of Collaboration based on Motivation and Structure

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to set up a collaboration typology framework and try to reveal interrelationships between different types of collaboration motivations and structure. In this paper, drawing on multi-theories, collaboration motivations are clustered as resource-oriented, strategy-oriented and legitimacy-oriented, while collaboration structure is sorted as informal agreement, legal entities and contract-based. Propositions considering relationships between these two dimensions are also worked out, where they are confirmed to fit well with the cases of actual collaboration activities. Therefore, with the welldefined collaboration typology models, this paper could be used for the clarifying and distinguishing on the different forms of collaborations. Moreover, with the validated propositions, this work also helps to answer ‘which collaboration structure would be preferred when considering certain motivation for the establishment of collaboration’. Thus, the general work here provides a sound theoretical basis for the strategic decision support on the collaboration activities.