Title: From industrial networks to strategic alliances or vice-versa

Authors: Desalegn Abraha Gebrekidan, Akmal S. Hyder

Addresses: School of Technology and Society, University of Skovde, 541 28 Skovde, Sweden. ' Department of Business studies, University of Gavle, 801 76 Gavle, Sweden

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is: to highlight the impact of industrial networks on strategic alliances; to determine if alliances help firms to build up new or strengthen existing networks; to find out whether alliances succeed or precede networks. Our findings show that well-developed networks have a positive impact on how alliances function and the results that they can achieve. The other finding is that alliances defend and strengthen networks, and also enable firms to build new ones or penetrate those of their alliance partner(s). The final conclusion is that it is difficult to determine if alliances succeed or precede networks.

Keywords: industrial networks; strategic alliances; resources; performance; learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEM.2009.023922

International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, 2009 Vol.1 No.4, pp.361 - 386

Published online: 18 Mar 2009 *

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