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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Innovation Sourcing: Contributing to Company Competitiveness

(TEMPE, Arizona) May 17, 2011 — Innovation of products, services and business models is increasingly identified as an important strategy to achieve competitive advantage. Some firms have realized the potential of capitalizing on external sources for that innovation. In a recently published focus study, CAPS Research examines the strategies and approaches that are in place at a number of companies to collaborate with suppliers on innovation. The report addresses how these strategies can be used and the specific role supply management plays in the process. The primary source of data is in-depth interviews with over 70 key executives at five leading global companies, eight of their SBUs and their suppliers. This report complements the 2010 CAPS Research Focus Study, "Implementing Supplier Innovation: Case Study Findings."

The focus study "Innovation Sourcing: Contributing to Company Competitiveness" is available on the CAPS Research public website www.capsresearch.org. First time visitors will be prompted to register to access the study. For more information about this focus study or other reports, contact CAPS Research at research@capsresearch.org.

Celebrating twenty-five years of research excellence! CAPS Research is a nonprofit research organization founded in 1986 to provide leading research to our strategic-minded corporate sponsors and to the public. Our mission is to work in partnership with a global network of executives and academics for the discovery and dissemination of strategic supply management knowledge and best practices. CAPS Research is jointly sponsored by the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, the Institute for Supply Management™, and Global 1000/Fortune 500-size organizations.

Media Contact:
Debbie Maciejewski
Marketing Manager
CAPS Research
800-888-6276 extension 3046
Email: dmaciejewski@capsresearch.org

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