This paper is devoted to the pattern of activity within large companies, through the two criteria of decentralization and contracting out. Our goal is to understand whether the determinants are identical for both internal and external boundaries of the firm. One literature stream contributes to...

The authors report the results of a study on the motives of corporate headquarters in large European manufacturing firms for engaging in outsourcing and the risks they perceive to be associated with strategic outsourcing operations. Four main issues can be highlighted: preoccupations about core...

Constantly focused on the role of competencies and resources, firms' strategic management teams are becoming increasingly interested in discovering an effective way of managing the competencies that they possess. In high-tech sectors, these competencies have a direct impact on the firm's future...

This article discusses the originality of European EUREKA consortia. Formed at the initiative of member firms, these consortia generally adopt a decentralised structure. Their main purpose is to conduct applied research, with the ultimate goal of exploiting its commercial opportunities. The...