Resource interaction in inter-organizational networks: Introduction to the special issue

This article introduces the special issue of Journal of Business Research on the topic of resource interaction in inter-organizational networks. Both networks and resources receive considerable attention in the field of business studies. As companies specialize further and rely on cooperative agreements with external parties, the importance of networks is gaining increasing recognition. Resources are typically a key factor for identifying a company's competencies, or its sources of growth, profitability, and sustained competitive advantage. This special issue takes a novel approach by directing attention toward the processes of interaction in which companies combine and recombine resources at the network level. This approach provides new insights into the development, production, exchange, and use of resources. The introductory article also reviews the 13 articles in this special issue and concludes by discussing their contributions to the fields of marketing, innovation, entrepreneurship, and logistics.

Research Highlights► The article introduces the special issue on resource interaction in inter-organizational networks. ► It discusses the heterogeneous and interacted nature of resources. ► It stresses that networks enable the (re-)combination, exchange and use of resources. ► The article reviews the 13 articles in this special issue and their scientific contributions. ► These contributions stretch to marketing, innovation, entrepreneurship, and logistics.