Agreeing on expectations: How project management can help balance the ambitions of cooperation

Commitment and trust are often mentioned as important aspects of creating a perception of reliability between counterparts. In the context of university-industry collaborations (UICs), agreeing on ambitions and expectations are adamant to achieving outcomes that are equally valuable to all parties involved. Despite this, our initial probing indicated that such covenants rarely exist. As such, this paper draws on project management theory and proposes the possibility of structuring assessments of potential partners before university-industry collaborations are brought to life. Our analysis suggests that project management can improve the perceived success of the relationships in university-industry collaborations. We also find evidence that the initial stages are vital for collaborative success and we confirm that clearly defined, mutually agreed objectives and realistic aims heighten the chances of value-added for all involved parties. Finally, we convey views of the respondents, which may well constitute fruitful avenues for furthering the success of collaborations between universities and industry but without the backdrop of extra administrative layers.