SELECTING PARTNERS FOR COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS Mixed Methods Approach

Due to an increasingly uncertainty in the business environment, there is a need for organisations to collaborate in order to compete. However, due to time limitation in selecting partners for collaboration particularly new partners, there is a need to identify critical factors in finding the right partners. To explore the criteria for partner selection, mixed research methods approach was employed by conducting an online survey followed by a case study approach. The online survey was conducted with eighty-nine organisations that have experience in collaborative projects. ANOVA tests were performed on the survey data followed by an exploratory analysis. The major findings showed that out of sixteen partners selection criteria, only seven were critically important in selecting partners. These were then divided into two dimensions: dependability and experience. Later, the case study research methodology was carried out and conducted as further analysis of the online survey findings.