Strategic Alliances Research Articles

The Queen in Shakespeare’s Q1 Hamlet

Although long maligned, the 1603 first quarto of Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Q1) portrays a strong queen and mother figure in Gertred, specifically in a scene that is unique to this version of the play. While some grant that Gertred may be a more sympathetic character than her counterpart Gertrard in the second quarto (Q2) or Gertrude in the Folio (F), critics generally neglect the Q1-only scene involving her and Horatio, finding it repetitious and dull. This essay’s close reading of this scene shows that Gertred excels at diplomatic intrigue, building strategic alliances through a distinctive politics of motherhood.

MODI 3.0 AND INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power in May 2014, there have been substantial changes to India's foreign policy. With the goal of raising India's profile and influence internationally, Modi's strategy has been characterized by a fusion of conventional diplomacy with cutting-edge tactics or a unique blend of hard and soft power. During his leadership, a bold and assertive foreign policy that prioritizes strategic alliances, economic diplomacy, and a strong defense posture has been implemented. This paper examines the main tenets of Indian foreign policy under Modi, such as its economic goals, regional engagements, strategic components, and reactions to international issues. It is also an attempt to explore the future course of IFP under Modi 3.0.

In the Name of My Father: The Personalization of Government in Nigerian Politics, 1999-2023

The study examines the implications of the roles of class, godfatherism, and personalization of government for Nigeria’s political development and nation-building. The research method employed was the qualitative analytical method which involved content analysis of relevant documentary data on the subject. The approach adopted was also thematic. The research findings indicate that because of the “unending” transition to civil rule, most politicians avoided the transition because they are not certain if the military will hand over power to civilian, and they lacked the money to compete with the political entrepreneurs. These gave room for political entrepreneurs or ‘money bags’ to dominate the transition programme. The principle of party supremacy shortly lost its meaning as campaign organizations took over from party secretariats. And the party’s manifesto or programme lost its meaning to the personal ‘greed’ or ambitions of the political entrepreneurs, who also positioned their children to power through various means, including inheritance of political legacies, strategic alliances, and leveraging financial resources. The attitude of these godfathers impacted negatively on good governance. It also reduces the legitimacy of government and voids the electoral value of the citizens.

Strategic Alliances in Global Health: Innovative Perspectives in the Era of Sustainable Development.

This article discusses current challenges in the field of global health and the World Health Organization's (WHO) strategies to address them. It highlights the importance of measuring the health impacts of global recession and globalization and the need for human-centered approaches to sustainable development. Emphasis is placed on commitment to health equity and the use of strategic partnerships for health at global, national, and local levels. Improving the health and well-being of populations, as well as public health equity, are core principles of the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These principles are expressed in SDG 3, which promotes universal access to health services and systems and recognizes global health as a basic human right. It highlights the importance of strategic partnerships to combat emerging health crises, improve public health indices, and address the burden of chronic disease. These partnerships are contemplated in SDG 17 and are manifested in different modalities, such as network governance, cross-sector collaboration, public-private partnership, and social participation. This diversity of alliances has played an important role in scaling up and strengthening universal health systems around the world, including in Latin America and the Caribbean. The text concludes by presenting the essential characteristics of these inter-organizational and inter-institutional alliances in the field of global health.

Cold War Dynamics: The Strategic Interplay of Turkish-American Relations

Purpose: This article investigates the primary determinants of Turkish-American relations during the Cold War, focusing on key events and policies that influenced bilateral interactions. It aims to understand the impact of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, NATO alliances, the Cyprus issue, and the Kurdish conflict on these relations. The study also critically assesses the role of ethnic lobbies, such as the Armenian and Greek communities, in shaping U.S. foreign policy towards Turkey. Method: Utilizing a comprehensive historical analysis, this research draws on different sources including speeches, and official correspondences, as well as secondary sources such as academic books, journal articles, and theses. This methodological approach allows for an in-depth exploration of the complex interplay between domestic politics and international diplomacy. Conclusion: The study reveals that Turkish-American relations during the Cold War were shaped by a combination of strategic alliances, regional conflicts, and domestic political influences. Key policies like the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were instrumental in solidifying Turkey as a critical ally, while events such as the Cyprus issue and the Kurdish conflict presented significant challenges. The influence of ethnic lobbies also played a crucial role in shaping bilateral relations. Implication of the Research: The insights gained from this analysis provide valuable lessons for future diplomatic efforts, emphasizing the need for cooperation, diversification of partnerships, and strategic alignment. Understanding the historical context of Turkish-American relations can inform current and future diplomacy, helping to navigate the complexities of this bilateral relationship. Originality of the Research: This research offers a unique and comprehensive examination of Turkish-American relations during the Cold War, incorporating a critical assessment of both strategic policies and the influence of ethnic lobbies. By providing a nuanced understanding of these factors, the study contributes original insights to the field of international relations and foreign policy analysis.

Strategic alliance, agency problems, and labor investment efficiency

Inter-firm strategic alliances, which are formed to facilitate resource allocation and improve efficiency, may also inadvertently lead to labor investment inefficiencies due to increased agency conflicts and managerial opportunism. Using a sample of Chinese firms, we find that strategic alliances significantly reduce labor investment efficiency by 4.5%. The reduction in labor investment efficiency takes the form of reduced revenue-generating capacity per unit of labor, overhiring of labor, and increased labor cost stickiness. Consistent with the agency view, we find that the negative effects of strategic alliances are more pronounced under weak corporate governance and high information asymmetry among alliance partners. Overall, the results highlight the complex dynamics of inter-firm strategic alliances and provide practical insights for improving labor investment efficiency in the context of inter-firm cooperation.

Unveiling the synergy: entrepreneurial effectuation and alliance-driven SME diversification

PurposeInternationalisation is a complex and uncertain process for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), characterised by challenges such as limited resources, lack of international experience and uncertainty in foreign markets. This study aims to explore the impact of entrepreneurial effectuation on the diversification of products and market expansion. Additionally, it examines the mediating role of alliance capabilities in this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis study developed five hypotheses based on an extensive and relevant literature review. Data were collected using nonprobability judgemental and snowball sampling techniques from 202 software exporting firms in Bangladesh to measure the relationship. Data collected from the survey were then analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results of this study show that all five hypotheses developed in this study are supported. This study found a positive impact of entrepreneurial effectuation on product and market diversification. Study results also show that alliance capabilities mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial effectuation and product and market diversification.Research limitations/implicationsIn the face of internationalisation uncertainties, SMEs use effectual decision-making logic and form strategic alliances to enhance their competitive positions. This research contributes to understanding how SMEs use effectuation in navigating international markets and expanding their product portfolios and market reach.Originality/valueThis study pioneers a mediation approach to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial effectuation, alliance capabilities and diversification in SME internationalisation. Examining the interplay of decision-making logic and collaborative ventures, this study offers insights into the complexities of SME internationalisation in uncertain environments.

Integrating blockchain and strategic alliance in renewable energy supply chain toward sustainability: A comparative decision framework under uncertainty

Renewable energy development is important in the current era due to the attention paid to environmental issues and energy demand growth. On the other hand, the growth and expansion of the use of RE requires cooperation and participation in the Renewable Energy Supply Chain (RESC). The strategic alliance between the parties involved in the field of RE can play an important role in reducing risk and significant growth in RESC. Also, due to various capabilities such as transparency, traceability, decentralization, security, and immutability of information, blockchain plays an important role in improving trust and strengthening cooperation in strategic alliances between partners in RESC. Therefore, this study proposes a decision-making framework under uncertainty for integrating blockchain and strategic alliance in RESC. The proposed framework involves the CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and Fuzzy Combined Compromise Solution (F-CoCoSo) techniques. Also, validation and sensitivity analysis are performed using several fuzzy decision-making techniques. The findings indicated that matching energy supply and demand through information sharing on the blockchain platform and cooperating with companies in the RESC was recognized as the most important solution.

Impact of strategic alliances on enterprise investment levels

This study selected a sample of listed companies in China from 2012 to 2022 to examine the impact of strategic alliances on enterprise investment levels. Based on the findings, the participation in strategic alliances significantly improved the investment levels of the listed companies, while reducing their financing constraints and enhancing their risk-taking abilities. For the nonstate-owned enterprises, the effect of the participation in strategic alliances on their investment levels was more significant.

POST-SOVIET ASIAN POLICY: RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY IN CHINA AND INDIA (1991–1999)

This article is an attempt to revisit the Asian policy of the Russian Federation in the Post-Cold War era. More specifically, the aim of this article is to determine the origins of Moscow’s current strategic alliances with China and India in a historical trajectory from 1991 to 1999. To this end, the article focused on Russian diplomatic activities, state visits, cooperation strategies and signed agreements within this timeframe. Then, in the context of these diplomatic efforts, the article discussed how the priorities of each government could affect these initiatives with a focus on their national concerns, geopolitical imperatives and global strategies. Following these discussions, the article concluded that a revival of global status was at the heart of Russia’s Asian diplomacy. Moreover, it was concluded that while foreign relations with China and India had emerged from two different historical processes, the common interests and imperatives that were mutually perceived by these states were crucial in reaching strategic agreements and shaping post-Soviet alliances.

Green entrepreneurship orientation and environmental, social, and governance performance: Do contractual strategic alliances matter?

AbstractThe driving forces that enable firms to achieve better environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance have been a popular topic in academia. However, in the context of increasing numbers of entrepreneurial teams engaging in green entrepreneurship, whether a green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) enhances ESG performance from an overall strategic orientation is still unclear. If so, what are the mechanisms by which a GEO influences ESG performance? To determine the potential relationship and influencing mechanism between a GEO and ESG performance, we use Chinese listed firms from 2009 to 2022 as our research sample and fixed effects and difference‐in‐difference models to explore how a GEO affects ESG performance. The results show that a GEO significantly and positively affects ESG performance, especially for nonstate‐owned enterprises (nonSOEs), firms with high digital transformation, and firms in the manufacturing industry. Further research shows that participation in contractual strategic alliances (SAs) can strengthen the effect of a GEO on ESG performance. Moreover, we find that a GEO can efficiently encourage firms to engage in contractual SAs, that the link between the two is moderated by financial constraints (FCs) in an inverse‐U manner, and that this relationship is evident only for nonSOEs. In conclusion, our study provides a nuanced understanding of how a GEO, contractual SAs, and FCs collectively shape corporate ESG activities and elucidates their far‐reaching implications for enhancing ESG performance. Our empirical findings also have practical implications for firms seeking to improve their ESG performance.

THE SINO-PAK STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND INDIA'S REGIONAL AIM IN SOUTH ASIA: AN ANALYSIS

In recent years amid 2013-2024, Sino-Pak relations witnessed a qualitative transformation as bilateral ties expanded in strategic perspective. Pakistan has been forced to pursue a strategic collaboration with China in order to preserve the balance of power in South Asia as a result of the dynamic post 9/11 global political changes and expanding strategic partnership between the US and India. Under the auspices of the Indo-US strategic partnership, India is making most of its resources and collaborating with US in a number of areas, including energy, defense and security, so as to fulfill its ambitions of becoming a dominating force in the region and building blue water navy. India regional aspirations are too great for Pakistan to overcome on its own. In order to oppose India's imperial aspirations in South Asian area, the Sino-Pak formed a strategic alliance. This study will pose some queries about most recent iterations of this partnership. In this research, strategic partnership amid two countries is described using a Rational Actor Model. The research goes on to say that Sino-Pak will not be deterred from pursuing the project despite India's assertion that corridor route goes through disputed Northern Pakistani territory.

Innovation generation through formalisation and fairness in university – Industry collaboration

Relationships between universities and industry are a source of entrepreneurial activity and innovation. Considering the complexity of university-industry (U–I) collaboration though, the underlying activities require formalisation mechanisms to help overcome ambiguity, mismatched objectives, demands and expectations to ensure joint innovation outcomes. Fairness perceptions have also been found to determine the success of inter-organisational relationships. However, to date fairness has not been explored in stakeholder contexts, such as those prevalent during U–I collaboration. This research extends knowledge on U–I collaboration processes by exploring if formalisation mechanisms increase fairness perceptions and joint innovation outcomes. We adopt a survey methodology to explore the experiences of German professors engaging in U–I collaboration. Our findings identify that formalising U–I collaborations, through mechanisms such as clear procedural guidelines and contracts which agree responsibilities and outcome expectations, leads to enhanced perceptions of fairness and trust. Furthermore, both procedural and distributive fairness were found to increase the positive effect of formalisation on joint innovation outcomes. These findings advance U–I collaboration and strategic alliances literature through identifying the importance of perceived fairness, which is often deemed to be as important as material outcomes and will impact upon join innovation outcomes being achieved. Furthermore, this research proves the positive relationship formalisation has on innovation outcomes.

The impact of reconciliation quality in strategic alliances on financial innovation: The case of Moroccan institutions

Operators of financial institutions in developing economies have a significant impact on economic activity by funding innovative initiatives. However, the lack of existing documentation to demonstrate the empirical relationships between financial innovation and the quality of the partnership relationship between these institutions represents a major gap in strategic and international management.This paper presents an empirical study aimed at uncovering the results of the quality of financial institutions’ relationships regarding innovation within strategic alliances.Using a qualitative research model, the study explores the positive influence of the quality of the relationship on financial innovation within Moroccan financial institutions engaged in strategic alliances. Four research hypotheses were tested using regression analysis on a sample of 34 strategic alliances formed by Moroccan financial institutions during the reference periods of 2018–2022.The empirical results show that the quality of reconciliation relationships among Moroccan financial institutions has significantly contributed to their financial innovation. It is particularly crucial to combine two essential characteristics: mutual trust and partner commitment. On the other hand, mechanisms of mutual exchange and communication do not significantly affect financial innovation. The study underscores the importance of promoting high-quality ties within strategic alliances to foster financial innovation in Moroccan financial institutions. This emphasizes the significance of trust and mutual commitment between partners in promoting innovation in the financial sector.

Complementary Alliances and Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions: Evidence from Cameroon

Purpose: The Cameroon Microfinance sector has been facing stiff competition as a result of globalization where other players have joined the sector with differentiated innovative products/services rendering MFIs in quest of new strategies of development. Partnerships are becoming an alternative business strategy and hence the formation of strategic alliances in the microfinance industry. This study sought to determine the influence of complementary alliances on the sustainability of MFIs in Cameroon. The objectives were to examine how complementary alliances in financial institutions and complementary alliances in non-financial institutions affect sustainability of MFIs in Cameroon. Materials and Methods: The study used a survey research design to examine the effects of the independent variables on the dependent variable. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used in this study. The target population of the study comprised of the 361 MFIs in the Centre, Littoral, NW, SW and West regions of Cameroon that have carried out strategic alliances which were retained and used to develop the sample size. Data was collected through the use of opened and closed ended questionnaires administered to senior management of the MFIs. Data collected was analysed using the Structural Equation Modelling with Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression estimation techniques to check the robustness of the data set. Findings: OLS Findings suggest that complementary alliances in financial institutions, more than complementary alliances in non-financial institutions has a positive and significant relationship with sustainability of MFIs in Cameroon given their β coefficients of 0.243** and 0.036 respectively. The regression coefficient for complementary alliances in financial institution is significant at 5%. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: It is recommended that MFIs should partner with other financial and non-financial institutions in terms of commercialisation of services. This will strengthen their business relationships, enable them have access to resources and expertise from partner organisations to expand their operations, generate revenue that will keep them going and boost the financial growth of the economy.

Decision tree for adaptation after radical changes: linking dynamic capabilities, ambidexterity, and strategic alliances

AbstractWe developed a decision tree that integrates relevant organizational adaptation theories to respond to radical changes. The understanding of organizational adaptation often requires a combination of multiple theoretical lenses, especially considering today’s radical changes in technologies, markets, and regulations. However, the research streams on adaptation and change are often disconnected and we lack a unifying adaptation framework that might reveal the synergistic contribution of each theoretical perspective to the problem. To fill this important lacuna, we integrate four relevant scholarly perspectives on the topic: dynamic capabilities, ambidexterity, vertical alliances, and horizontal strategic alliances. Our main contribution is an integrative decision tree that unveils when and why each perspective is most appropriate to respond to radical changes. Our research also unpacks dynamic capabilities theory by suggesting when ambidexterity, vertical, and horizontal alliances are appropriate to integrate the upper-level theory of dynamic capabilities, and how they can overcome some of its limitations. The paper also clarifies that, in order to adapt ambidextrously after radical changes destroying core and/or complementary assets, companies need specific alliance strategies.

US-China global competition and dilemma for Vietnam's strategic choices in the South China Sea conflict

The South China Sea (SCS) conflict has become a critical factor for regional peace and development with growing geopolitical competition between China and the USA. To face the rising threat of China, the study argues that the balance of power theory is relevant to explain why Vietnam attempts to strengthen strategic alliances with the USA, Russia, EU, and India to balance against the rising threat of China in SCS. However, this theory is not able to explain why Vietnam has a bandwagoning policy toward China at the same time. To fill the gap of the previous studies, this study endeavors to put forward the point that as geopolitical rivalry between the two superpowers, the United States and China, intensifies, Vietnam is put in a predicament of balancing the economic and the political choices against the choices of taking a neutral stand against the assertiveness of China in the SCS. Further, the alternative traditional balance options with ASEAN, and Russia are not sufficiently effective for Vietnam to balance against China since the position of both ASEAN and Russia is much weaker than China. This study also suggests that the support of the USA, EU, and its alliance for Vietnam’s position creates unbearable costs for China’s aggressive behaviors in SCS. By using the mathematical and logical framework, the study suggests that Vietnam tends to adopt a mixed strategy (balancing, bandwagoning, neutrality) in dealing with China’s threats.

Decoding Amazon’s innovation and partnerships in the Vendor Flex: meaningful alliances or imbalanced governance dynamics?

PurposeThis research delves into a comprehensive examination of Amazon’s Vendor Flex (VF) model, seeking to illuminate the intricacies of supply chain innovation through alliances between Amazon and its suppliers. Employing a multiple case study methodology, the study investigates the reduction of transaction costs, the establishment of strategic alliances for supply chain innovation and governance issues within these alliances.Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study methodology, incorporating personal interviews and triangulation with primary sources, was employed to unravel the dynamics of the VF model.Findings Results indicate that the VF model aligns with the reduction of transaction costs by leveraging Amazon’s specialized knowledge, although not necessarily through direct knowledge sharing. Amazon suppliers highlight competitive advantages gained through VF, showcasing efficient navigation of peak seasons and a focus on core activities with online retailing integration. The VF alliance represents a collaborative model where Amazon’s technological prowess enables a streamlined and innovative supply chain for online retailing, which resembles a vertical integration process.Originality/value This research underscores the potential of strategic alliances to drive innovation by incorporating industry-leading practices. The governance issues within the VF alliance reveal power imbalances, emphasizing the need for managers to govern dynamics, disclose information and build trust in large-scale alliances.

A Business Development Strategies in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions

The pharmaceutical industry faces unique challenges and opportunities, driven by rapid technological advancements, evolving regulatory landscapes, and shifting market demands. This paper examines key business development strategies within the industry, focusing on innovation, regulatory strategies, market expansion, and strategic alliances. Through a review of current literature and case studies, we identify successful practices and potential areas for growth, aiming to provide actionable insights for stakeholders looking to enhance competitiveness and market reach in the global pharmaceutical sector.

Green Innovation Adoption in Turkish and Iranian SMEs: The Effect of Dynamic Capabilities and the Mediating Role of Absorptive Capacity

AbstractGreen innovation (GI) adoption of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) especially in middle-income economies plays a significant role to reduce negative impacts of environmental issues and to gain competitive advantage. The main objective of the present paper is to examine the mediating role of absorptive capacity (ACAP) on the relationship between dynamic capabilities (DC) and GI adoption in the context of Turkish and Iranian SMEs, two middle-income economies. For this purpose, a well-established online questionnaire is administered to 296 top executives of Turkish and Iranian SMEs operating in energy industry, a highly dynamic market. Using Hayes Process Macro Model, the results of this paper reveal that ACAP has a significant effect on GI adoption of Iranian SMEs but this effect of ACAP is insignificant in terms of Turkish SMEs. The empirical evidence obtained from the present paper also puts forward that DC positively influnce GI adoption in Turkish SMEs, however, the corresponding relationship is not significant for Iranian counterparts. For both middle-income economies, ACAP has a statistically significant mediating role on the relationship between DC and GI adoption of SMEs. Strategic alliances engagement and governmental incentives on GI investments are recommended to overcome certain barriers of SMEs including resource shortages and to improve ACAP and DC that enhance GI adoption of Turkish and Iranian SMEs in the future. As far as is known, this is the first study that compares possible antecedents of SMEs’ GI adoption in two middle-income economies.