Business Network Learning

Emerging global markets and rapid technological development make strong demands on the ability of companies to develop and utilize knowledge. In order to handle the knowledge management problem, firms have to search for new collaborative ways of organizing internationalization and technical development. This is reflected in a growing interest among both businessmen and academics in business networks. Business networks have been defined as networks of connected business relationships between firms, where a business relationship is a lasting relation between two firms doing business with one another. Business network relationships are particularly interesting since they allow the companies to interact more closely with each other and thereby handle critical problems in a way that is beneficial in the long run for the parties involved. It has been demonstrated that business networks are closely related to company learning. First, learning is an important element in business network development. Second, learning is an effect of interaction in business networks relationships. Third, learning can be a part of interaction in relationships. Against this background, the objective of this volume is to discuss learning in business network settings.