Title: Research issues and future directions in strategic alliances: a reply to Prof. Culpan (2009)

Authors: Arvind Parkhe

Addresses: Department of Strategic Management, Temple University, 1801 Liacouras Walk Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA

Abstract: In this note, the author provides a critique of Culpan (2009). Specifically, the author addresses the epistemology of the extant body of alliance research, probes various schemas for categorising strategic alliances, and briefly discusses agency theory as a theoretical lens with the power to inform scholarly work on alliances. The author closes with two suggestions for future research, namely, bringing alliances and networks closer together as research topics, since they are tightly linked conceptually; and attempting to foresee the architecture of global business in coming decades, as the evolution of organisational forms continues under growingly porous firm, industry, and national boundaries.

Keywords: strategic alliances; networks; epistemology; taxonomy; agency theory; global business architecture; organisational forms evolution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSBA.2010.036095

International Journal of Strategic Business Alliances, 2010 Vol.1 No.4, pp.392 - 396

Published online: 19 Oct 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article