Title: A knowledge-based view on value co-creation: a cultural-historical activity theory perspective on the development of supplier-customer interactions

Authors: Paulo Sergio Altman Ferreira

Addresses: School of Engineering, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, São Paulo, 01302-907, Brazil

Abstract: The present research explores cultural-historical activity theory as an approach to expand our current understandings of a knowledge-based view of value co-creation developments. Through the lens of cultural-historical activity theory, this study provides a framework explaining the view of knowing and learning as integral to the managerial practice of value co-creation. By means of an ethnographic case study strategy and using developmental work research tenets, the results of fieldwork describe how knowledge, learning and managing intertwine and transform supplier-customer interactions for co-creating value. Ultimately, this work proposes that value co-creation is a managerial journey of supplier-customer relations to the zone of proximal development through knowledge development of communicating in multi-voiced activity systems, learning the application of novel concepts, roles and relations, and managing multiple perspectives of value.

Keywords: value co-creation; knowledge; learning; cultural-historical activity theory; inter-organisational process.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2024.139366

International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 2024 Vol.14 No.2, pp.115 - 132

Received: 30 Mar 2023
Accepted: 27 Sep 2023
Published online: 01 Jul 2024 *

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