Traditionally governance structures are classified into ＂hierarchy or market＂ or ＂equity or non-equity.＂ However,such classifications may not be effective in characterizing all governance structures of research an...Traditionally governance structures are classified into ＂hierarchy or market＂ or ＂equity or non-equity.＂ However,such classifications may not be effective in characterizing all governance structures of research and development（R D） alliances.Therefore,the first objective of this study is to investigate why there exist different organizational governance structures in managing R D alliances;the second objective of this study is to give strategic advice in choosing appropriate forms with respect to various characteristics of R D alliances.Through the theoretical lens that integrate both transaction cost economics（TCE） and the resource-based view（RBV）,a model that focuses on six major factors is developed for determining governance structure choices,namely,technological uncertainty,cultural difference,asset specificity,technology complementarity,appropriability of the individual firm＇s know-how,and trust.An R D alliance with higher technological uncertainty,larger cultural differences,and greater concerns for protecting an individual＇s know-how is more likely to adopt non-integrated alliances as the governing structure.An R D alliance with a higher degree of asset-specificity,greater technology complementarity and greater trust among partnering organizations is more likely to adopt integrated alliances as the governing structure;an R D alliance in the face of lower technological uncertainty will tend to adopt integrated alliances.The more aligned the choice of the governance structure with its determinants,the better the R D alliance will perform,and vice versa.展开更多
基金The Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
文摘Traditionally governance structures are classified into ＂hierarchy or market＂ or ＂equity or non-equity.＂ However,such classifications may not be effective in characterizing all governance structures of research and development（R D） alliances.Therefore,the first objective of this study is to investigate why there exist different organizational governance structures in managing R D alliances;the second objective of this study is to give strategic advice in choosing appropriate forms with respect to various characteristics of R D alliances.Through the theoretical lens that integrate both transaction cost economics（TCE） and the resource-based view（RBV）,a model that focuses on six major factors is developed for determining governance structure choices,namely,technological uncertainty,cultural difference,asset specificity,technology complementarity,appropriability of the individual firm＇s know-how,and trust.An R D alliance with higher technological uncertainty,larger cultural differences,and greater concerns for protecting an individual＇s know-how is more likely to adopt non-integrated alliances as the governing structure.An R D alliance with a higher degree of asset-specificity,greater technology complementarity and greater trust among partnering organizations is more likely to adopt integrated alliances as the governing structure;an R D alliance in the face of lower technological uncertainty will tend to adopt integrated alliances.The more aligned the choice of the governance structure with its determinants,the better the R D alliance will perform,and vice versa.
