Achieving synergies through collaboration in a complex organisation - A case study at Serendipity Professionals

Abstract

Within complex, innovative organisations, many challenges may arise as the company grows. Some of these challenges are associated with the goal of adding value and increasing profits, and can be tackled through more efficient knowledge management as well as cooperation. When companies try to create synergies from their different competencies, they can be stalled by the numerous and often diffuse implications, leaving them unable to even know where to start. This master thesis will answer the question of how a complex organisation can achieve synergies, with a focus on creating new business opportunities. Iteratively, three main factors that influences value-adding cooperation within the organisation emerged, namely culture, structure and leadership. From these three factors, the main prerequisites, incentives, challenges, management, systems and processes for collaboration have been discussed in order to practically find out how an organisation can achieve synergies. Through discussion and analysis of qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews, which was compared to existing literature within the main factors, the following conclusions could be reached. The first is the importance of having a well defined and widespread company vision. The second is having a strong common company culture. The third is effective knowledge management. The fourth is having strong social motivators that relate to the intrinsic goals of the individual. The fifth and final conclusion is having efficient communication channels. If the organisation focuses on these five conclusions, the collaborative ability will improve and consequently synergies can be achieved.