STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE – AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN BRAZILIAN FIRMS
Resumo
This work discusses the characteristics of strategic
alliances that affect the obtainment of competitive
advantages, according to the perception of managers
who responded to the following question: can
strategic alliances contribute to the obtainment of
competitive advantages? It also demonstrates to
companies of this type that do not participate in
cooperative arrangements the benefits that they
might receive from this relationship. This exploratory
work was developed through a field survey based on
the administration of a questionnaire to Information
Technology companies. The questionnaire was
constructed with two scales, one on competitive
advantages and the other on strategic alliances. The
survey was answered by 121 companies of various
sizes, located in various Brazilian states. The data
were analyzed through canonical correlation and the
results showed that organization, commitment, focus
on mutual gains and cooperation are the elements
that favor competitive advantages, especially
related to the enhancement of operational efficiency,
enhancement of response power through agility
and flexibility, pioneering potential, innovation and
managerial capacity.
Keywords: Strategic Alliances – Brazilian States
– IT.
alliances that affect the obtainment of competitive
advantages, according to the perception of managers
who responded to the following question: can
strategic alliances contribute to the obtainment of
competitive advantages? It also demonstrates to
companies of this type that do not participate in
cooperative arrangements the benefits that they
might receive from this relationship. This exploratory
work was developed through a field survey based on
the administration of a questionnaire to Information
Technology companies. The questionnaire was
constructed with two scales, one on competitive
advantages and the other on strategic alliances. The
survey was answered by 121 companies of various
sizes, located in various Brazilian states. The data
were analyzed through canonical correlation and the
results showed that organization, commitment, focus
on mutual gains and cooperation are the elements
that favor competitive advantages, especially
related to the enhancement of operational efficiency,
enhancement of response power through agility
and flexibility, pioneering potential, innovation and
managerial capacity.
Keywords: Strategic Alliances – Brazilian States
– IT.