The Effects of Legal, Normative, and Cultural-Cognitive Institutions on Innovation in Technology Alliances

• Adopting an institutional lens, this paper examines the interaction between different levels of legal, normative and cultural-cognitive institutions on the level of innovation associated with the choice of alliance governance mechanism as equity or contractual.
• Using patent data, this paper undertakes multilevel modelling of 314 technology alliance portfolios located in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
• Key findings indicate normative and cultural-cognitive institutions do affect the performance outcomes of alliances. Equity alliances provide supporting mechanisms that quell fears about organizational risk in alliances under conditions of uncertainty avoidance as the dominant cultural-cognitive frame, and hence contribute to better innovation performance. Contractual alliances are associated with higher levels of innovation under normative contexts that value collectivism rather than individualism.
• Contrary to expectation, the results do not support the literature of a fit between equity alliances and weak intellectual property rights protection on innovation. However, the presence of highly formalized legal processes for enforcing contracts is associated with higher levels of innovation from alliances.

     

Technology-Enabled Innovation, Industry Transformation and the Emergence of Ambient Organizations

Technology-enabled business innovation may present the potential to structurally transform traditional industry practice, but uncertainty remains as to where and how such transformations might be accomplished. To maintain enterprise competitiveness and agility during these times of structural change, a frequent suggestion for strategic management is to seek loosely coupled partnerships or alliances with best practice providers for non-core functions. Original research into the nature of alliances in the financial services industry reveals the presence of tightly coupled, technology-enabled ventures that deliver core services electronically across organizational and industry boundaries. These alliances represent an emerging specialized organizational form, the virtual or ambient organization. Theoretical and practitioner literature provide little reference to ambient organizations, by any name, and confuse the terms: alliances, strategic partnerships and virtual organizations. Tightly coupled, technology-enabled ambient organizations that can cross industry boundaries provide a previously unrecognized linkage between organizational form and industry transformation. Analysis of four instances of ambient organization in and across three industries produces a model of their characteristics and features. Theoretical and empirical implications are examined.     

Impact of Intellectual Property Rights on the Governance Mode Decisions of Engineering Managers During the Establishment of Research Alliances With Publicly Funded Entities

Strengthening intellectual property rights for publicly financed research and development (R&D) ensures that research organizations maximize the full national value of the intellectual property that they generate, but potential negative spillover effects on the perceived value of a research alliance might deter an existing alliance partner from continued collaboration or a potential alliance partner from future collaboration. This study, performed in 2010 within the context of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa, aimed to develop a structural equation modeling-based value-mediation governance decision-making model that will enable engineering managers at publicly financed R&D organizations to select optimal governance modes for the research alliances they are establishing to grow their organizations’ R&D capabilities.     

The effects of internal technological diversity and external uncertainty on technological alliance portfolio diversity

This research proposes internal and external determinants that influence the diversity of a firm’s alliance portfolio. Focusing on technological aspects of the firm as well as investigating internal and external factors, we suggest that the internal technological diversity of the focal firm, as well as the technological uncertainty of the industry, affects the technological diversity of the alliance portfolio. The hypotheses are tested on a sample of U.S.-listed semiconductor firms’ global R&D alliances from 1990 to 2010. We find that the internal technological diversity of a firm has a negative influence on its technological alliance portfolio diversity. However, technological alliance portfolio diversity seems unaffected by the uncertainty of the firm’s environment. This study contributes to prior literature which has extensively studied the effects of alliance portfolio diversity on firm performance but has paid little attention to its determinants.     

基于平衡记分卡的动态联盟绩效评价

在动态联盟使用的过程中存在诸多导致失败的因素,而不能正确选用动态联盟评价方法是其中的主要原因。运用平衡记分卡把企业联盟的战略目标与实现过程联系起来,把财务层面、客户层面、内部程序层面和学习与成长层面构成基于控制活动的一个完整动态联盟绩效评价体系。通过在平衡记分卡评价体系中使用模糊评价的方法可以全面测评动态联盟,改善动态联盟的绩效。     

Growth Incentives to Invest in a Network Externality Environment

Firms that operate in the telecommunications industry oftenhave to make large and risky investments in digital infrastructure.This paper examines how firm size affects the incentive to investin infrastructure projects in industry environments that incursubstantial network externalities. We suggest that, in the presenceof network externalities, a firm's rate of growth first declinesand then increases with the size of its user base. An implicationof this result is that firms may benefit from making investmentsin emerging digital infrastructure early enough to achieve asubstantial user base and to gain that user base before otherfirms' investments pre-empt them. The results mean that firmsthat undertake earlier successful investment may achieve pre-emptionvery quickly. The sources of network externalities contributeto the incidence of strategic alliances in network industries,particularly when coupled with the pressures of technical uncertainty.     

The role of risk assessments in the governance of genetically modified organisms in agriculture

Controversy abounds in the governance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for use in agriculture, partly due to ideological differences. Technological optimism and the "shallow" and the "deep" ecology movements are three influential ideologies that are seen to differ both on value commitments and factual beliefs with respect to GMOs. Factual matters are clarified but not resolved by science, since the scientific community faces uncertainty and apparent contradiction between different research perspectives, notably molecular biology, ecology and the social sciences.Scientific advice plays a key role in the governance of GMOs and ought to be construed so as not to exclude legitimate arguments from ideological perspectives present in the process of governance. This paper analyses the role and use of risk assessments and argues that they be replaced by forms of advice that consider a broader spectrum of scientific evidence and insights, e.g. impact assessments and evaluations of inherent sources of uncertainty and ignorance. A few practical measures to that effect are discussed.     

The determinants of supply chain alliance performance: an empirical study

This paper assesses relationship characteristics in supply chain alliances and their effects on alliance performance in supply chains in the context of manufacturing firms drawing on the theory of social exchange and goal interdependence. The results from AVAS analysis show that relationship stability, trust of supplier, relational capital and commitment exert significant effects on the performance of supply chain alliances. These results offer implications for researchers examining the performance of supply chain alliances. Research limitation and future research are discussed.     

Innovation, Uncertainty and Relational Governance

What is relational governance (RG)? What problems is it meant to solve? Under what conditions is it effective? The question posed by the editors of this issue is a welcome occasion for reflection on a widely used but multiple meaning concept and on its virtues and limits. In particular, I shall address the question of what properties RG precisely has in governing innovation. Answering this question leads to distinguishing four types of RG with different capacities of dealing with uncertainty.     

Sustainable governance of emerging technologies—Critical constellations in the agent network of nanotechnology

Emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology, feature considerable uncertainty regarding benefits that can be realized and unwanted side effects that ought to be avoided. Sustainable governance of emerging technologies addresses this issue from an integrated societal perspective that proposes collaboration among agents from science, business, government, and the public during the process of technological innovation and diffusion. In this paper, we present agent network analysis as a method to identify critical constellations in the agent network against the normative background of sustainable governance. Results from a transdisciplinary study on the agent network of nanotechnology in Switzerland reveal, among others, missing key agents, non-fulfillment of required functions, non-availability of required knowledge, and deviations between self- and cross-perception. The study contributes to methodological discussions on the formation of agent networks in science, technology, and public policy studies.     

Practice Standardization in Cross-Border Activities of Multinational Corporations: A Resource Dependence Perspective

This study examines the relationship between power dependence and practice standardization in the context of cross-border alliances. Existing studies have typically assumed that standardization or adaptation is a unilateral decision made by multinational corporations (MNCs) but ignored the influence of the relative power of multinational and local partners under conditions of government influence. Drawing on resource dependence theory (RDT), we argue that the power imbalance between multinational and local firms may shape the standardization of practices in their established alliances. The results, based on a sample of 243 Fortune 500 US companies, indicate that when the level of government influence is high, the positive effect of MNCs’ resource importance on practice standardization diminishes and the negative effect of local firms’ alternative resources becomes stronger. These findings suggest that RDT has important implications for understanding standardization versus adaptation in cross-border alliances.     

基于多权重Shapley值的联盟利益分配机制

利益分配机制是影响联盟合作成功的关键因素.传统的含权Shapley值模型在解决联盟利润分配问题时,仅从联盟整体的角度赋予成员单一的权重,而忽视了成员在不同联盟活动中可能存在议价能力和贡献的差异.为此,提出一种多权重Shapley值模型,以反映成员在多项联盟活动中的不同权重.通过对联盟合作对策进行Shapley等价分解,...     

Exposing strategic assets to create new competencies: the case of technological acquisition in the waste management industry in Europe and North America

This paper presents a model that complements the research streamof transaction cost economies with the dynamic capabilitiesapproach. The paper shows that, even though technological alliancesinvolving specific assets deployed in emerging industries areexposed to high transaction costs, they possess attributes thatmake them attractive. First, they facilitate the creation oftacit competencies, and second, they reduce the uncertaintyarising from technological innovation and regulatory changes.The model is empirically tested in the hazardous waste managementindustry by using primary data collected through the use ofquestionnaires. The method links governance structure choicesto managers' perceptions of the uncertainty surrounding theacquisition of technology.     

动态联盟收益分配问题的博弈研究

借鉴委托-代理理论建立了动态联盟的收益分配模型,分析了动态联盟收益分配过程应考虑的因素,并以此为基础利用博弈论的相关模型分析动态联盟的博弈行为,其中包括两种非合作策略下的博弈和一种合作策略下的博弈,并通过实例论证了动态联盟进行合作机制设计和应用的必要性.     

The Norwegian banks in the Nordic consortia: a case of international strategic alliances in banking

Despite the scholarly interest in joint ventures and strategicalliances, the consortium bank movement represents and under-researchedphase in postwar banking history. From 1964 to the early 1980s,many of the largest banks in the world, including the Nordicbanks, entered into international strategic alliances. Almostall of these alliances are now defunct and thus we are lookingat the growth and demise of an organizational form. We followthe Norwegian banks in the Nordic consortia and find that domesticrivals do not cooperate but international rivals do. Legal prohibitionsin the Nordic countries on entry by foreign banks underpinnedthe cooperation. The cooperation broke down when, as a resultof deregulation, the Nordic banks could establish operationsin each other's domestic markets and when domestic mergers disruptedexisting international alliances.     

Do horizontal relationships matter to production and operations managers?

This paper shifts the focus of production, operations and supply chain management business relationships from the vertical to the horizontal side and calls for more research on this issue. The main intent is to provide managerially oriented arguments regarding the linkages between the achievement of operations-related goals and decisions related to horizontal business relationships. Specifically, we address the following research question: Does a linkage exist between production and operations objectives and the decisions a company makes about horizontal agreements, particularly horizontal governance mode choice? To answer this research question, we develop literature-based hypotheses and collect data from 4316 agreements of mergers and acquisitions and alliances and joint venture announced and completed between 2000 and 2010 by 88 of the first 100-ranked members of the Fortune 500 in the year 2000. We then test the hypotheses through a binary logistic regression model. This study brings interesting results and findings in terms of how and why production management considerations should play a crucial role in the type of strategic decisions that are usually reserved for finance and strategy managers. Operations managers should be fully involved in such decisions if they are to be well acquainted about how their choices impact on operational objectives.     

The predictive value of behavioural characteristics on the success of strategic alliances

An increasing number of companies are setting up strategic alliances with suppliers and customers. However, the majority of these alliances do not succeed. Our aim is to understand how different behavioural characteristics are associated with alliance success. We hypothesise that alliance attributes, communication behaviour, and alliance management are predictors of cost benefits and service benefits. Furthermore, we found that while alliance attributes are related with both cost and service benefits, communication behaviour and alliance management are only associated with service and cost benefits, respectively. We also see that alliance attributes explain most of the variance of supply chain success and are thus better predictors of alliance success than other behavioural characteristics. Furthermore, we provide insight into the way managers can build up supply chain performance by setting up strategic alliances.     

Strategic Alliances: Lessons from the New Biotechnology Industry

ABSTRACT

Strategic partnerships or strategic alliances have been called the “life blood” of companies in the new biotechnology industry, and a large number of firms are now participating in such collaborations. However, for a variety of reasons, not all such partnerships are successful. This paper describes some initial results from research conducted on a sample of small new biotechnology firms to identify the types and incidences of their strategic alliances, the reasons why they were formed, and the factors that contributed to their success or failure. Based on these preliminary findings, several recommendations are made for facilitating successful alliances in the new biotechnology and other industries.     

全球无线充电产业发展现状分析

简要介绍了无线充电技术的产业化应用,通过对全球三大无线充电企业联盟——WPC、A4WP、PMA的统计分析,研究了三大企业联盟的规模以及联盟成员企业的国家、地区分布和行业性质,以此反映全球以三大企业联盟为核心的无线充电行业的的发展现状。研究表明,中国的成员企业众多,但在无线充电领域的产业布局不够完善,应该从终端产品代工向上游核心技术研发生产转移,不断推进无线充电技术的发展扩大和应用领域。