[ESSEC Knowledge] by Vivianna Fang He - Associate Professor at ESSEC Business School
The text discusses the dynamics of university-industry collaborations, such as the one between Oxford University and AstraZeneca in COVID-19 vaccine development. It highlights that asymmetry in goals and perceptions between academic and industry partners can exist. Research involving multiple collaborations revealed that such asymmetry is common but doesn't necessarily hinder success. Conflict can impact collaboration but varies between cognitive (task-related) and affective (personal) conflict. Managing conflict and perception asymmetry is crucial for effective academia-industry collaborations, with recommendations for monitoring, training, and addressing different types of conflict. Acknowledging and managing these differences can lead to successful partnerships, even when goals are misaligned.
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