L’apprentissage organisationnel dans les coopérations

A world leader in its sector, the European-based Alpha group, produces and markets cutting-edge technology. By analyzing five case studies of cooperation between the company and various foreign partners, the author examines the role of organizational learning as a reason for forming such cooperative agreements. He also looks at how the learning process can be oriented gradually during the implementation of projects to maximize their usefulness to the firm. He thereby reaches a conclusion that is less paradoxical than it may first appear: the cooperation agreements did result in the acquisition of skill as originally intended, but these prove difficult to transfer within the organization. However unexpected skills learnt can be quickly exploited through both the development of equipment, and also in terms of better management practices.