Any form of partnership depends on knowledge sharing to fulfill its promise and deliver business value. However different types of partnership need different mechanisms to support the process. In this paper we explore four categories of inter-organizational collaborative relationships and learn from the relationship managers what makes them successful. We have identified particular organizational arrangements and individual skills and values that make a difference to performance in each category. We suggest that understanding what helps the right knowledge to flow between the various members of a partnership is an important aspect of delivering value in an increasingly networked business world.
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