A researcher from the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), has recently conducted a study to identify the key factors for managing innovation in regional joint ventures. The study, which focused on the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company in the Kingdom of Bahrain, found that clear communication and strategic planning are crucial for success.
The study, which was conducted by Ms. Raeda Saif Al Shamiri, a PhD graduate in innovation management, aimed to identify the critical factors that contribute to the success of joint projects. The research involved semi-structured interviews with 21 senior management officials and a four-round evaluation using the Delphi Method with 85 middle management officials from the Company.
The study found that five main dimensions were critical for managing innovation in joint projects; institutional learning, strategic control, integration of resources, institutional context, and uncertainty of external influences. The results also highlighted several key factors that contributed to success, including clear goals and objectives, a transparent approach, strong corporate governance, and access to global resources and networks.
Ms. AL Shamiri’s study also revealed five strategies that constitute success factors for joint projects; flexibility management, matching competencies, corporate governance, direct investment, and focusing on agility.
The dissertation was supervised by Dr McMillan Durugbo, a former associate professor of supply chain and service innovation, and Dr Afaf Mubarak Bugawa, ICT Assistant Professor at the AGU.
