Collaborative concept development using supplier competitions: Insights from the automotive industry

Firms may seek to collaborate with skilled suppliers not only to access existing technologies but also to jointly develop new concepts. We sought to examine the details of collaborative concept development through matched cases of novel convertible roof projects in the European automotive industry. The result is a three phase model marked by the use of supplier concept competitions to probe possible features and by the selective maintenance of distance to suppliers. Knowledge transfer and integration practices, differences depending on initial experience, and implications for managing such distributed systems of innovation are highlighted.