Friends, acquaintances, or strangers? Partner selection in R&D alliances

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Li, Dan; Eden, Lorraine; Hitt, Michael A.; Ireland, R. Duane
• 署名单位: Indiana University System; Indiana University Bloomington; IU Kelley School of Business; Texas A&M University System; Texas A&M University College Station
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• 发表日期: 2008
• 页码: 315-334
• 关键词: ABSORPTIVE-CAPACITY; STRATEGIC ALLIANCES; firm performance; social-structure; COOPERATION; governance; trust; COMPETITION; INNOVATION; DYNAMICS

摘要

Like governance structure and alliance scope, partner selection may serve to safeguard firms' intellectual assets in R&D alliances. We categorize potential alliance partners into friends, acquaintances, and strangers, depending on their previous alliance experience. Data on 1,159 R&D alliances indicate that the more radical an alliance's innovation goals, the more likely it is that partners are friends rather than strangers. However, strangers are preferred to acquaintances, suggesting partner selection preferences are not transitive. Moreover, results suggest that firms use partner selection, governance structure, and alliance scope as substitute mechanisms to protect valuable technological assets from appropriation in R&D alliances.