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Information gathering through alliances

Author

Listed:
  • Letterie, Wilko
  • Hagedoorn, John
  • van Kranenburg, Hans
  • Palm, Franz

Abstract

The effect of a firm's uncertainty regarding technological development on the formation of alliances is examined, and it is shown that this uncertainty is positively related to the number of alliances. However, higher uncertainty also makes the firm less likely to ally with others if the collected information is redundant. The higher the similarity between the technological regimes of potential alliance partners, the lower the incentive to ally. Also direct ties are preferred to indirect ones if uncertainty is high since direct ties yield more accurate information than indirect ties.

Suggested Citation

  • Letterie, Wilko & Hagedoorn, John & van Kranenburg, Hans & Palm, Franz, 2008. "Information gathering through alliances," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 176-194, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:66:y:2008:i:2:p:176-194
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    Cited by:

    1. Matthieu Mandard, 2013. "Profiting from collaborative innovation: R&D alliances and technological assets protection mechanisms [Profiter de l'innovation collaborative : alliances de R&D et mécanismes de protection des acti," Post-Print halshs-00846071, HAL.
    2. Mauro Napoletano & Stefano Battiston & Michael König & Frank Schweitzer, 2008. "The efficiency and evolution of R&D Networks," Sciences Po publications 2008-31, Sciences Po.
    3. Carayol, Nicolas & Bergé, Laurent & Cassi, Lorenzo & Roux, Pascale, 2019. "Unintended triadic closure in social networks: The strategic formation of research collaborations between French inventors," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 218-238.
    4. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/9935 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Lorenzo Napolitano & Evangelos Evangelou & Emanuele Pugliese & Paolo Zeppini & Graham Room, 2017. "Technology networks: the autocatalytic origins of innovation," Papers 1708.03511, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2018.
    6. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/9935 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/9933 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/9933 is not listed on IDEAS
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    10. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/9933 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. König, Michael D. & Battiston, S. & Napoletano, M. & Schweitzer, F., 2011. "Recombinant knowledge and the evolution of innovation networks," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 79(3), pages 145-164, August.
    12. Hans T. W. Frankort & John Hagedoorn & Wilko Letterie, 2016. "Learning horizon and optimal alliance formation," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 212-236, June.
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    14. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/7346 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Czarnitzki, Dirk & Hottenrott, Hanna, 2012. "Collaborative R&D as a strategy to attenuate financing constraints," ZEW Discussion Papers 12-049, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
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