The implicit distinction in the buyer behaviour literature between the contexts of consumer markets and organizational markets has lead to a bifurcated approach to the development of buyer behaviour theory. While useful, even necessary, for teaching and planning purposes, this distinction is inhibiting the development of a generic theory of buyer behaviour and should be questioned. Once the weaknesses of distinguishing so fundamentally between organizations and individuals in terms of their buying behaviour are clarified, a number of key concepts in organizational buyer behaviour clearly require rethinking. More comprehensive empirical research is needed to develop a rigorous theory of buyer behaviour capable of generic application, with appropriate contextual adjustment. The paper explores these issues and suggests some possible conceptual starting points for an integrated classification of buyer behaviour.
It is apparent that more and more organizations are embarking on collaborative ventures to develop products. This is particularly evident in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors, so much so that part of the ‘received wisdom’ of ICT companies is that collaboration is the preferred route for product development. The benefits of collaboration have been well documented and are linked to the complexity and costliness of product development and the need for inputs from wide and varied areas of expertise as well as shorter lead times for product development. But the risks and costs of collsborative product development have been less well defined. In this paper, it is argued that the alleged rewards of collaboration may not be experienced in practice and that collaboration can lengthen the product development process, add to the cost of product development and prove difficult to control. However, management practice can facilitate the effective outcome of collaborative product development and the critical factors affecting the likelihood of successful management practice are presented here.
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