Empirical Analysis of Swisscom and Its Confrontation with the Theory

Abstract

This chapter starts with the introduction to Swisscom, its organization, size, structure, economic performance, R&D activity, and its relationships with academic partners. Then, based upon the empirical material gathered during the analysis, the practice of collaboration with academic partners in the four consecutive phases: identification, selection, formation, and navigation is discussed. The next subchapter identifies and describes the key tensions, disturbances, and barriers in the collaborative problem-solving, and takes account of the remedies and countermeasures as identified and implemented by the actors involved in the collaborative processes. Subsequently, the organizing processes in activity networks as developed and pursued by Swisscom through three perspectives: perspective taking, perspective sha**, and perspective making are outlined. Finally, the issues related to the intercultural encounter are discussed—in particular, boundary objects, boundary interactions, and the role of boundary brokers in building the bridges between different communities.