Technology executive connections

Technology executive connections: Managing the risks and rewards of collaboration*
Download Download Managing the risks and rewards of collaboration* (2.2mb)
Download Download Full survey responses, demographics, and methodology (2.2mb)

Managing the risks and rewards of collaboration*

Volume 6

Given the growing complexity and interdependency of technology products, it is increasingly difficult for any single company to be able to deliver all things to all customers. This underscores the need for formal kinds of collaboration with third parties. But collaboration can introduce a new and broader set of business risks.

How can technology companies manage the risks to reap the rewards of collaboration? To answer this question, PwC surveyed over 150 senior technology industry executives worldwide, and conducted in-depth personal interviews with industry leaders and PwC subject matter professionals. The findings are analysed in this report.

How does your company measure up?
Click here for live benchmarking against your revenue peer group.

Publications in the Technology executive connections series

Download Vol 5: Going green: Sustainable growth strategies (2.2mb)
Download Vol 4: Exploiting intellectual property in a complex world (2.1mb)
Download Vol 3: Successful strategies for talent management (1.6mb)
Download Vol 2: Shaping digital convergence through mergers and acquisitions (2.5mb)
Download Vol 1: Embracing change in the technology industries (1.6mb)

 
 
 
 
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Introduction

Technology companies in today's complex economy can significantly expand opportunities through collaboration. This type of partnering gains access to new resources, talent, sources of capital and marketing channels. According to PwC's online survey of global technology industry executives, collaboration is becoming a core competence.

Click through the next six questions to discover how your company compares to our survey respondents in its collaboration efforts.

Question 1

So we can match you to your revenue peer group, what are your company's annual revenues?
  52%
$500 Million or less
  14%
$500 Million to
$1 Billion
  18%
$1 Billion to
$10 Billion
  16%
$10 Billion or more

Compare
Clear

Question 2

On a scale of one to five, how important is collaboration with external partners to your company's success today?
  16%
Very Important
1
  83%
2
  10%
3
  14%
4
  14%
5
Not Important

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Clear

Question 3

On a scale of one to five, how important will collaboration with external partners be to your company's success in three years?
  16%
Very Important
1
  83%
2
  10%
3
  14%
4
  14%
5
Not Important

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Clear

Question 4

With which of the following external groups does your company most actively collaborate, either formally or informally? Select up to two.
  83%
Competitors
  16%
Complementary non-competitors
  83%
Customers
  10%
IT vendors
  83%
Other prospects (formal or informal)
  16%
Regulators
  14%
Professional service firms
  10%
Governments
  16%
Suppliers
  14%
Universities
  10%
Don't know/Not applicable

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Question 5

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
"My company is pursuing more collaborative partnerships with third parties than in the past."
  16%
Agree
  83%
Neutral
  10%
Disagree

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Question 6

Which statement best describes how your company determines the ROI of formal collaborations? Our company...
  16%
... does not determine the ROI of our collaborative efforts in any way
  83%
...uses only informal measures to assess how successful our formal collaborations have been.
  10%
...uses specific metrics to prove that our collaborative efforts have yielded positive overall results.

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Clear

Conclusion

To profit from collaboration, companies must apply management discipline to the right strategies. As the leading business advisor to technology companies around the world, PricewaterhouseCoopers can help you develop strategies, processes and controls to maximise the returns on your collaborative efforts.

Contact a PwC professional to find a technology industry leader in your area.