Genesis and Evolution of the Xerox-P&G Co-innovation Partnership: Lessons Learned

Abstract

The following case study of the Xerox-P&G co-innovation partnership is based on the analysis of documentary data and interviews conducted between September 2010 and December 2010 with the key leadership responsible for the design and implementation of the co-innovation partnership. Interviews were conducted with four senior Xerox executives and two senior P&G executives associated with the co-innovation partnership. Each interviewee received an interview protocol covering the themes and questions in advance. Each interview (averaging 60 minutes in length) was transcribed verbatim and reviewed by the research team to identify key themes and insightful quotes, which are used throughout the case study. A longer version of this case study was reviewed and approved for factual accuracy by the Xerox and P&G executive team that provided us access to the interviewees participating in this study and to in-house company documents.

We wish to thank Xerox’s chief technology officer, Sophie Vandebroek, for championing this case study, as well as the Xerox Corporation for their support of our case study activities and the dissemination of our findings. We also acknowledge Elizabeth McGovern, the Strategy and International Business Department office coordinator, for editing our chapter to ensure its conformity with the requirements of our publisher and for identifying some rough spots in our writing and offering helpful improvements.