The role of the Network Lead Company in integrating the NPD process across strategic partners Yuosre F. Badir* Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), College of Management of Technology, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland E-mail: yuosre.badir@epfl.ch *Corresponding author Bettina Büchel International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Ch. de Bellerive 23, CH-1001 Lausanne, Switzerland E-mail: bettina.buchel@imd.ch Christopher L. Tucci Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), College of Management of Technology, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland E-mail: christopher.tucci@epfl.ch Abstract: In today’s network world, advancement in new product development (NPD) is being driven by different types of networks, joint ventures, alliances, outsourcing and mergers. Managing the integration of an NPD process in this increased organisational complexity requires a sophisticated organisation design to facilitate and support the coordination of activities and the flow of information across the networks. This paper investigates the impact of the organisational design of the ‘network lead company’ (the main company in the network) on the integration of the NPD process across a network of strategic partners, and the subsequent effects on project performance. We adopt the project level of analysis and focus on NPD project organisation. Our conceptual model suggests that four organisational attributes – hierarchical levels, centralisation, formalisation and team empowerment – have an effect on the integration elements (communication and coordination), which ultimately improve project performance. Keywords: communication; coordination; innovation; integration; network of strategic partners; new product development; organisation theory. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Badir, Y., Büchel, B. and Tucci, C.L. (2005) ‘The role of the Network Lead Company in integrating the NPD process across strategic partners’, Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Vol. 5, No. 1/2, pp.117–137. Biographical notes: Yuosre F. Badir is a Research Associate at the College of Management of Technology, at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL). He received a BSc degree in civil engineering from the University of Garyounis, Libya, an MSc in project management from the University of Putra Malaysia and an MSc in logistics management from the EPFL. His current research interests include project management, innovation and product development, and organisation design. He has published several academic articles in these areas. 111 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2011 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 711 8 Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Vol. 5, Nos. 1/2, 2005 117 Copyright © 2005 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. IJEIM-8-Badir 2/14/05 12:06 AM Page 117