Learning Through Strategic Alliances

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of salient issues concerning learning through strategic alliances. The term ‘strategic alliance’ refers to cooperation between firms for the purpose of improving the partners’ ability to achieve their strategic objectives. Such alliances can range from equity and contract-based joint ventures to consortia and less formal collaborations (see Child and Faulkner 1998; Lorange and Roos 1992). Some strategic alliances are between firms occupying similar positions in a value chain, where the prime motivation often is to achieve scale economies or reduce the financial risk of costly new projects rather than to acquire knowledge. Other strategic alliances are formed between firms that occupy different positions in a value chain; in this case the acquisition of new competencies may be an important motive behind their cooperation (Garrette and Dussauge 1996).