Strategic alliance success: Bringing individuals' networks, knowledge and actions into the equation

This dissertation explores sources of variation that influence success of strategic alliances. The fundamental premise of this dissertation is that individuals embedded within the alliance hold the productive resources of social and human capital on which alliance success depends. Drawing on social network theory this study proposes that trust in one's contacts and the unique structure of individuals' networks provide access to information and norms of interaction, which influence individuals' actions and alliance success. Beyond the differences in individuals' social capital, this dissertation proposes that variations in human capital, or the knowledge held by individuals, also influence alliance success. The effects of these individual-level resources are formalized in a series of hypotheses which explain differences in alliance success.; The hypotheses are tested by applying quantitative analysis to data collected on 82 alliances which involve the development of new medical device technologies or products. The primary data for this study were collected via two surveys. A full survey was mailed to key individuals involved in the implementation of the alliances and a partial survey, including the measures of alliance performance, was mailed to executives overseeing these alliances.; The results of this project indicate that collectively, individuals bring to the alliance resources which exert considerable influence on the innovative success of contemporary alliances. Variations in the structure of advice networks influence the information exchanged among individuals and alliance success. However, in order to capitalize on the information accessed through network connections and achieve alliance success, the requisite mix of knowledge relatedness and knowledge diversity is also essential. In addition, the joint action of individuals mediates the relationship between trust and alliance success. Thus, differences in the networks, knowledge and actions of individuals are important sources of variation in alliance success.