Building bridges to successful alliance formation: extending our understanding of performance related determinants focusing on small- and medium-sized businesses

Roland H. Simons and Susanne Royer

International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business, 2006, vol. 1, issue 3, 244-257

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to build on previous research (Royer et al., 2003) into the relationship between the self/partner reputation and alliance formation using 'Real-World' competitors. Theoretical studies and case studies have progressed the field substantially but have also been subject to a number of limitations. This study includes complex considerations including motivation for alliance, number of potential partners available, resource wealth of potential partners, and past history with potential partners. The focus of this study is on cooperative arrangements of small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs). In the dynamic environment, SMEs with their traditional resource limitations often have to bundle resources with others to survive. It was argued that the study of alliance formation was particularly relevant to smaller business entities. Representatives from 50 Australian engineering organisations were involved in the study. The findings suggest considerable implications for theoretical propositions relating to the complexity of alliance formation for SMEs and the design demonstrates methodological enhancements relevant to the field.

Keywords: alliance formation; partner selection; game theory; experimental study; Australian engineering firms; small and medium-sized businesses; SMEs; Australia; alliances; small business; stability. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=10610 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijgsbu:v:1:y:2006:i:3:p:244-257

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().