On March 10, 2025, Daniel Stedjan Svendsrud from the Digital Innovation Group (DIN), successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo. His dissertation, titled Towards a Theory of Interorganizational Collaboration Arrangement Emergence: Rethinking the Orchestration Concept, explores the formation of interorganizational collaboration structures, such as digital platform ecosystems and interorganizational networks.
The defense took place at 13:15 in Auditorium SmallTalk, Ole Johan Dahls hus, following his trial lecture earlier that day at 11:15, which offered a Deleuzian perspective on the orchestration of interorganizational collaboration.
Key Research Insights
Svendsrud's research re-examines the concept of orchestration in interorganizational collaborations, proposing a new theoretical framework. His study suggests that such collaborations arise through the deliberate actions of a central formal organization, which uses economic value creation as a strategic signal to attract potential partners even before tangible value has been realized. Drawing on Gilles Deleuze’s process philosophy and empirical research on digital platform ecosystems, the thesis provides fresh perspectives on the temporal and potential states of these arrangements.
The findings contribute to existing literature in information systems, organization studies, and management, while also offering practical insights for business leaders attempting to establish and manage interorganizational collaborations.
Evaluation and Committee Members
The adjudication committee for Svendsrud’s defense comprised scholars from various institutions. Professor Tor Hernes from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, Professor Virpi Tuunainen from Aalto University in Finland, and Associate Professor Henrik Skaug Sætra from the University of Oslo, Norway, were responsible for evaluating the dissertation and its contributions to the field.
Svendsrud’s research was guided by a team of experienced scholars. Professor Katja Maria Hydle, Professor Margunn Aanestad, and Professor Emeritus Ole Hanseth, all from the University of Oslo, played a supervisory role in overseeing and shaping his work.
The defense was chaired by Professor Xing Cai from the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo, ensuring the smooth conduct of the event.
With his successful defense, Svendsrud has made a substantial academic contribution to the understanding of interorganizational collaboration, both in theory and practical application.
To read more about Daniel Stedjan Svendsrud and his work, visit this link.