Relational Knowledge and Governance Choices : A View within Resource-Based Theory Perspective

The paper is a theoretical paper, focused on the analysis of the intangible and cognitive content of inter-firm relationships, according to knowledge-based view (Kought and Zander, 1992; Foss, 1993, 1996; Nonaka, 1994; Grant, 1996; Teece, 1998). In particular, the issue is examined taking into account two main approaches on learning and knowledge creation: the the exploration/explotation model (March, 1991) and the model based on the concept of absorpitive capacity (Cohen and Levinthal, 1990). These approaches are analyzed critically, with specific reference to inter-firm collaboration, taking into account also contributions within the so called Relational View (Gulati, 1998; Dyer and Singh, 1998; Kale and Singh, 1999, 2007; Kale, Dyer and Singh, 2002), according to wich the social aspect of the relationship between the firma md its external environment is a central question. The basic assumption is that external relationships can generate knowledge and competences that are potentially able to generate relational rents (Dyer and Singh, 1998), important not only for the single firm but also for the whole aggregate (alliance, rather then network) it belongs to. Then a systemic logic comes out, according to which partners interact, exchange knowledge and resources, through different governance models, in order to reduce relational costs and gain the most intense synergic effects. The problemi s, however, that such a profitable collaboration does not seem to be so widespread and in some cases networks fail because of the lack of coordination mechanism. From this point of view, a governance entity can be necessary or at least appropriate (Kale, Dyer and Singh, 2002)