The alliance map: A tool for managing fear and greed in alliances

For alliances to sustain themselves, the synergies that are generated between partners must be greater than the conflicts that drive them apart. A good starting point to get to the root cause of conflicts in an alliance is to know your partner’s levels of fear and greed. In this article, I first offer a systematic way of evaluating fear and greed and then explain how to classify partners into four types (i.e., easy partner, fearful partner, greedy partner, and risky partner) and position them on a map. This map, the alliance map, highlights key areas of concern for managers dealing with each type of partner. This article offers an integrative perspective on alliance management, incorporating both relationally based and contractually based concerns that help to stabilize, develop, and strengthen the partnership in alliances.     

Strategic alliances by financial services firms

We examine a sample of strategic alliances made by financial services firms during 1986 to 2003. The market reacts positively to the announcements of alliances and seems to incorporate the information about the value of alliances at the time of alliance announcements. We find no evidence of abnormal stock performance after announcements. Our results also suggest that strategic alliances usually are used as a final form of cooperation rather than as a first step towards closer cooperation between firms. For instance, only about 5% of alliances are followed with joint ventures or mergers of partner firms. Nevertheless, strategic alliance firms are more likely to form joint ventures or merge than randomly selected and matched firms. Furthermore, the market reacts more favorably to the alliance announcements by firms that are subsequently acquired by the alliance partners.     

Entrepreneurial orientation and strategic alliance success: The contingency role of relational factors

This study extends entrepreneurship research into the domain of strategic alliances by hypothesizing a positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm-level alliance success. Drawing on a relational view, we further examine the focal relationship within a contingency framework, building on the distinction between cooperation (joint action and bonding) and conflict. Findings from a study of 197 partner firms suggest that a high level of joint action strengthens the positive relationship between EO and alliance success. Bonding moderates the relationship in an inverted U-shape manner such that the effect of EO on alliance success will be greatest when bonding exists at the moderate level. However, conflict has no significant moderating effect on the EO–alliance success relationship. Overall, this study provides novel insights into whether and when partner firms can translate an EO into final alliance outcomes.     

International Strategic Alliances

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of an empirical investigation of strategic alliance agreements between UK firms and their European, Japanese and US partners. The aim of this paper is to shed some light on the international strategic alliance activity of UK firms and ascertain the objectives and motives of international strategic alliances. In addition, the perceived performance of the strategic alliance is considered together with the perceived level of satisfaction of a range of alliance activities. The findings should prove to be a useful guideline for researchers and practitioners engaged in understanding international strategic alliances. The analysis should allow managers to examine the important issues in the formation of international strategic alliances and allow them to understand the assessment of performance and satisfaction of the alliances formed.

Key Results: The findings have shown a definite pattern in UK international strategic alliance activity. The results of the study indicate that the majority of UK firms engage in international partnerships for marketing-related activities and are essentially driven by the financial cost and risk of entering a foreign market; access to overseas market and improving market share. The findings have also indicated that the majority of UK managers are satisfied with the overall performance of the international strategic alliance.     

Inter firm diversity and the management of meaning in international strategic alliances

Cross-national alliances have become an increasingly salient part of the contemporary global environment. These alliances bring together firms embedded in diverse institutional environments. Diversity in institutional environments makes meaning creation difficult as well as necessary. Our paper suggests that the alliance partners need to manage three kinds of meaning, namely pragmatic, moral, and cognitive. It is the effective management of meaning, which determines whether an alliance is able to achieve legitimacy. Implications for alliance management are discussed.     

What do firms from transition economies want from their strategic alliance partners?

A financial system engaged in active transition from central planning to free market may be dubbed a transition economy. On today's global landscape, there are several important transition economies, all at various stages of transition and with differing degrees of success. Yet, much is not known about this important sector of the world economy. As outside enterprises seek alliances with firms from transition economies, it is important to know what these firms want from alliance partners. To learn more, we conducted a study interviewing managers of private firms from the two largest and most strategically important transition economies: China and Russia. We found that while Chinese and Russian firms often hope for some of the same things as their counterparts in mature economies as regards alliances, they are also interested in other things not normally associated with alliances: political influence, relief from paying bribes, and protection from extortion or even violence. Moreover, we discovered that because of differing institutional conditions in the two countries, Chinese firms are not always looking for the same things from alliances as are Russian firms—in spite of surface similarities between the two economies. Based on these findings, we provide guidelines for firms seeking alliance partners in transition economies, to assist them in determining if an alliance is right for them and planning accordingly.     

Understanding the antecedents of collateral learning in new product alliances

Recognizing that strategic alliances represent an important means for developing knowledge in critical arenas such as new product development, the authors advance the notion of collateral learning that assesses knowledge acquisition internal to a firm in the alliance. To examine its antecedents, the authors build on the behavioral theory of the firm and propose strategic importance and performance vulnerability as the motivational components and organizational similarity and alliance experience as the awareness components advocated in the theory. Results from 133 alliance firms suggest that both the motivational and awareness components are important in influencing collateral learning in new product alliances. Specifically, to develop collateral learning, firms should have extensive alliance experience and an acknowledged stake in their alliance partners. The results also support the theorized U-shaped relationship between organizational similarity of the alliance partners and collateral learning. Thus, collateral learning is facilitated when organizations are either similar or dissimilar, while medium levels of organizational similarity facilitate collateral learning to a relatively lower extent. Although performance vulnerability is found to be associated negatively with collateral learning, extensive alliance experience can attenuate this negative effect.     

Corporate motivation and performance in R&D alliances

In the face of the global challenges of rapid transitions in technologies and markets, R&D activity has become one of the main ways for companies to engage in innovation. In addition, minimizing transaction cost is no longer sufficient to ensure a company's survival; therefore, companies must investigate and acquire resources to facilitate innovation within the organization. This study investigates corporate motivation and the performance of R&D alliances among machinery manufacturers in Taiwan. To explore the relationships between motivation and performance, this study adopts two distinct but complementary perspectives on R&D alliances: transaction-cost economics (TCE) and resource-based theory (RBT). This study includes the administration of a survey to explore the issues of motivation of companies participating in R&D alliances, types of governance structure in alliances, relationships between governance structure and performance, and relationships between motivation and performance of an R&D alliance in Taiwan's machinery industry (the TMI). The results in this study assert that corporate motivation as derived from both TCE and RBT perspectives has a significant positive relationship with the performance of R&D alliances; however, the other moderating variables, such as types of governance structure and corporate attributes, do not have a significant impact on the performance of R&D alliances in the TMI.     

Impact of growth strategy on mode of governance in alliances

The aim of this study is to analyse the way in which growth strategies influence the choice of governance mode in corporate alliances. Specifically, the study looks at how expansion, diversification and internationalisation strategies determine choice of joint ventures rather than other types of alliances. To that end, we analysed a sample of 918 alliances among companies from the European Union-15 between 2000 and 2004. The results suggest that companies prefer to set up joint ventures when their strategies are based on expansion and related diversification, whereas they prefer other types of alliances when they follow a strategy of unrelated diversification. Furthermore, in international alliances, it appears that the impact of growth strategy on alliance governance mode is similar for the entire range of companies employed in the sample.     

One more only if it is one of us. The number of partners and the stock market reaction to domestic and international alliance formation in EU telecom firms

In this paper, we analyze the interaction between two dimensions of strategic alliances whose real impact on the potential value of an alliance has not yet been highlighted: the number of partners and the direct competition among them. Building on the resource-based view, as well as on the relational view of alliances, we argue that increases in the number of partners are positively valued by the stock market when the alliance is formed by competing firms that belong to different countries. Multiparty alliances are thus positively valued when they allow a quick internationalization by affording access to resources owned by competing firms from different countries. An empirical test of stock market reaction to alliances announced by European telecom firms between 1986 and 2001 has confirmed our hypotheses.     

Cooperative or competitive in alliance formation: Alliance patterns with respect to rivals

Premised on the assumption that strategic alliance is a type of competitive action toward rivals, this study explores how a firm uses alliances differently with respect to rivals. I distinguish between two types of alliances that directly involve rivals: alliance with a rival and with a rival's partner. The former and the latter reflect cooperative‐ and competitive‐orientations respectively. Further, I investigate what drives a focal firm to adopt a particular alliance rather than another. The findings indicate that the key consideration explaining different alliance patterns is the resource profiles of focal and rival firms. This study contributes to the literature on competitive dynamics and strategic alliance by suggesting a new approach to integrate interfirm competition and cooperation. Copyright © 2016 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Do culturally distant partners choose different types of joint ventures?

Studies of international joint ventures yield conflicting results when looking at the role played by cultural distance. We argue that managers understand the problems associated with cultural distance and seek to mitigate its impact by selecting certain types of joint ventures. Using Das and Teng's [Das, T. K., & Teng, B.-S. (2001). A risk-perception model of alliance structuring. Journal of International Management, 7(1): 1–30] typology of unilateral and bilateral alliances to categorize a sample of ventures based on their strategic focus, our results indicate that greater cultural distance is associated with an increased probability that a marketing or supplier alliance will be formed and a lower probability that an innovation-oriented alliance will be formed.     

A longitudinal examination of the effects of retailer–manufacturer brand alliances: The role of perceived fit

Abstract

One resource that has been identified as a valuable source of competitive advantage is the equity associated with an organisation's brands. Organisations devote considerable resources to developing strategies that allow them to build and/or maintain strong brand names. This study investigates brand alliances between retailers and manufacturers. The role of perceived fit between the partnering brands is explored. In addition, the study examines the influence that retailer–manufacturer brand alliances have on: retailer equity; manufacturer brand equity; the intention of consumers to frequent the stores of the retailer involved in the brand alliance (shopping intention); and the intention of consumers to purchase products from the manufacturer involved in the brand alliance (purchase intention).     

Revenue sharing in network utility maximization problems

Alliances arise in a wide variety of domains, when a group of countries, political parties, people or other entities agree to work together because of shared interests or aims. They make sense, if the output obtained is somehow better than the outcome of acting individually. Revenue or cost sharing is key when determining if individuals are better off by contributing to an alliance or not. In our alliance each member owns a unique resource –or set of resources–, which is given to the alliance. The alliance sells services, which are supported thanks to one or a set of these resources. We focus on alliances that sell services in such a way that the total revenue of the alliance is maximized. We show that this kind of problems can be modeled through a Network Utility Maximization problem. We subsequently explore the problem of revenue sharing among the members of the alliance. Such a problem is a complex one since the interests of all participants must be ensured and correct incentives must be provided. We formally formulate the members’ interests through a set of properties the revenue sharing method should verify. We then discuss the existing methods for revenue sharing and conclude that none of them verifies the needed properties for the case of a revenue maximizing alliance. We finally propose a revenue sharing method based on projecting the contributions of each member of the alliance into an economic stable set. Through an exhaustive simulative study we conclude that our method provides, in addition to economic stability, fairness among members and the right incentives to them. Through our analysis Network Service Provider alliances, which sell quality-assured data transport services, are considered as an application example.     

论中国企业战略联盟的发展

战略联盟是指两个或两个以上的企业间或特定事业与职能部门间,为了实现共同目标和各公司的战略目标,通过公司协议或联合组织等方式结成在一起的网络式的经营联合体。战略联盟作为企业一种新的战略方式其形成既有来自企业外部的原因,也有来自企业内部的原因。我国企业应大胆选择战略联盟这种战略,弄清建立战略联盟应着重考虑的问题,以便成功地建立战略联盟,提高我国企业的国际竞争力。     

An Investigation into the Meaning of the Term Commitment in Sino Foreign Higher Educational Alliances—An Adventure into the Heart and Soul of Successful Alliances

Abstract

There is now a substantial body of research evaluating various aspects of educational alliances between Chinese and foreign universities, and one of the key aspects of success seems to be the degree of commitment made by the two sides. Yet the term commitment continues to remain elusive and very broad in scope. This paper attempts to identify what commitment meant to managers from a number of Chinese and foreign university alliances and concludes that it was a complex and deeply felt sentiment encompassing affective and cognitive aspects related to the personal and operational dimensions of an alliance over time. Commitment-in its various forms and guiseslay at the very core of a successful alliance. It enabled people-and their respective institutions-to devote considerable levels of emotional and cognitive energy to the alliance: it was about passion, and results; about enthusiasm and value; and about empathy and measurable quality.     

旅游联盟成功运作关键影响因素研究

近年来,在国际工商企业、旅游企业战略联盟浪潮的影响下,我国旅游企业也纷纷组建战略联盟,并取得了一定的经济效益。通过对旅游企业战略联盟(以下简称旅游联盟)的相关文献和实践进行全面梳理与分析,对影响我国旅游联盟成功运作的关键因素及其重要程度进行实证研究,使之明确了旅游联盟成功运作的关键因素。     

Exploring the innovation strategies of young firms: Corporate venture capital and venture capital impact on alliance innovation strategy

We investigate how governance structure and power influence alliance exploration strategy. Adopting a real options perspective and the agency view, we suggest that innovation strategies differ based on the firm's governance authority. We find that the motivations of corporate venture capitalist firms, venture capitalists, and firm founders may have an impact on the formation of exploratory alliances among adolescent firms. Using a sample of 122 adolescent firms, we examine the influence that governance structure has on the firm's alliance portfolio and innovation potential. While the influence of corporate venture capitalist firms alone do affect alliance formation strategy, corporate venture-backed firms with founders having high influence (knowledge or ownership in the firm) are more likely to form innovation-focused alliances. In contrast, venture capitalist-backed firms tend to avoid innovation-focused alliances, preferring more exploitive ones, even when founders have high influence within the firm.     

A process leading to strategic alliance outcome: The case of IT companies in China,Japan and Korea

Although theories and research have provided valuable information on strategic alliance, it still seems difficult for practitioners to overview the process and subsequent outcomes of strategic alliance in a single frame. This is because the conditions of alliance are different from one alliance to another, which makes it difficult for practitioners to apply existing research findings to their own cases. One of the ways to overcome such difficulties in practical application would not be focusing on alliance processes with unique or idiosyncratic features of each alliance but instead focusing on elements that exist in most alliances. To find out the process that leads to the outcome in strategic alliance that is easily applicable for practitioners, the current study measured the behavioral direction and relational outcomes of strategic alliance based on benefit and risk perception in information technology (IT) companies in China, Japan and South Korea. Results show that firms set the direction and the intensity of their participation in alliance based on benefit and risk perception. Specifically, while perceived benefits promoted active participation in alliance, perceived risks increased protective participation in alliance. Also, these behavioral directions predicted the relational outcome in strategic alliance such that while active behavioral orientation predicted commitment to the relationship with the partner firms, protective behavioral orientation led to dissolution of the relationship. The present study provides useful insights for strategy associates, and evoke more various and detached academic approaches in the field of strategic alliance discussions.