Title: The role of partnering factors in international learning alliance success

Authors: Jeffrey L. Cummings; Stevan R. Holmberg; Qin Yang

Addresses: Sellinger School of Business & Management, Loyola University Maryland, 4501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210-2699, USA ' Kogod School of Business, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA ' School of Business, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Abstract: Recent empirical findings and conceptual work point to the importance of partnering-related criteria in dyadic learning-alliance outcomes. Consistent with existing research on alliance partner selection, and building on the literature from organisational learning, knowledge transfer, alliances and international management, this paper develops a new multi-component model of key partnering factors linked to dyadic international learning-alliance outcomes. In order to delineate the model, we develop propositions with the aim of identifying a set of partnering-related criteria that can be used by firms to evaluate potential international learning partners and by future researchers to measure and examine the achievement of learning outcomes. We also fill a literature gap by proposing interpartner harmony as a potential mediator in the relationships between these partnering factors and learning outcomes.

Keywords: international learning alliances; strategic alliances; alliance partner selection; partnering; organisational learning; knowledge transfer; international management; modelling; learning outcomes; interpartner harmony.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSBA.2013.058296

International Journal of Strategic Business Alliances, 2013 Vol.3 No.1, pp.23 - 49

Received: 01 Feb 2013
Accepted: 06 Jun 2013
Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

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