Continuous Improvement and Collaborative Improvement: Similarities and Differences

A substantial body of theoretical and practical knowledge has been developed on continuous improvement. However, there is still a considerable lack of empirically grounded contributions and theories on collaborative improvement, that is, continuous improvement in an inter-organizational setting. The CO-IMPROVE project investigated whether and how the concept of continuous improvement can be extended and transferred to such settings. The objective of this article is to evaluate the CO-IMPROVE research findings in view of existing theories on continuous innovation. The article investigates the similarities and differences between key components of continuous and collaborative improvement by assessing what is specific for continuous improvement, what for collaborative improvement, and where the two areas of application meet and overlap. The main conclusions are that there are many more similarities between continuous and collaborative improvement. The main differences relate to the role of hierarchy/market, trust, power and commitment to collaboration, all of which are related to differences between the settings in which continuous and collaborative improvement unfold.

[1]  Harry Boer,et al.  Guest editorial to Continuous improvement: from idea to reality , 1999 .

[2]  de Dela Johanna Lange-Ros.  Continuous improvement in teams. The (mis)fit between improvement and operational activities of improvement teams , 1999 .

[3]  Paul Coughlan,et al.  Action research in collaborative improvement , 2006, Int. J. Technol. Manag..

[4]  Harry Boer,et al.  CI and performance: a CUTE approach , 1999 .

[5]  R. Middel *,et al.  Driving collaborative improvement processes , 2005 .

[6]  Sarah Jane Caffyn.  The scope for the application of continuous improvement to the process of new product development , 1998 .

[7]  Daniel J. McAllister.  Affect- and Cognition-Based Trust as Foundations for Interpersonal Cooperation in Organizations , 1995 .

[8]  Harry Boer,et al.  From continuous improvement to continuous innovation: a (retro)(per)spective , 2003, Int. J. Technol. Manag..

[9]  Harry Boer,et al.  CI changes: from suggestion box to organisational learning , 2000 .

[10]  Harry Boer,et al.  Implementing collaborative improvement - one approach fits all? , 2004 .

[11]  Alan G. Robinson,et al.  Continuous Improvement in Operations: A Systematic Approach to Waste Reduction , 1991 .

[12]  David T. Wilson,et al.  Managing Business Relationships , 1998 .

[13]  A. L. Frohman.  The Performance of Innovation: Managerial Roles , 1978 .

[14]  John Bessant,et al.  Developing Continuous Improvement Capability , 1998 .

[15]  Paul Coughlan,et al.  The Application of Action Learning and Action Research in Collaborative Improvement within the Extended Manufacturing Enterprise , 2005 .

[16]  H. Boer *,et al.  Factors affecting the development of collaborative improvement with strategic suppliers , 2005 .

[17]  Ross L Chapman,et al.  Introductory paper : from continuous improvement to collaborative innovation : the next challenge in supply chain management , 2005 .

[18]  R. Chapman,et al.  From continuous improvement to collaborative innovation: the next challenge in supply chain management , 2005 .

[19]  Sarah Caffyn.  Extending continuous improvement to the new product development process , 1997 .

[20]  Mariano Corso,et al.  Implementing Collaborative Improvement: Lessons from an Action Research process , 2003 .

[21]  Jay R. Galbraith.  Designing the Innovating Organization , 1982 .

[22]  Reiner,et al.  Research methodologies in supply chain management , 2005 .

[23]  Sarah Caffyn,et al.  Development of a continuous improvement self‐assessment tool , 1999 .

[24]  R. Cagliano,et al.  Collaborative improvement in the extended manufacturing enterprise: lessons from an action research process , 2005 .

[25]  Mark H. Hansen,et al.  The Cognitive and Affective Antecedents of General Trust within Cooperative Organizations , 2004 .

[26]  Rick Middel,et al.  Managing and organising collaborative improvement: a system integrator perspective , 2007, Int. J. Technol. Manag..

[27]  Robert I Westwood,et al.  Power, politics and influence , 2018, Leadership.

[28]  David M. McCutcheon,et al.  Issues in the choice of supplier alliance partners , 2000 .

[29]  J. Bessant,et al.  High-involvement innovation through continuous improvement , 1997 .

[30]  Harry Boer,et al.  Innovation, what innovation? A comparison between product, process and organisational innovation , 2001, Int. J. Technol. Manag..