A growing number of companies is focussing on their core competencies which leads to an increasing disintegration of existing value chains. Thus competition takes place not only between companies but also between networks of companies. Within global supply networks companies are intensifying their cooperation with suppliers and customers which creates expanded demand for knowledge exchange among the participating business partners. The management of knowledge as a re-source has to be considered as one of the most important success factors and competitive advantage in an intensified complex and dynamic environment.
