Perceived environmental uncertainty and strategic alliances in small and medium-sized enterprises

This study analyses the importance that small and medium-sized enterprises attach to forming strategic alliances according to the environmental uncertainty they perceive. The uncertainty is obtained by applying Duncan's (1972) typology, combining environmental dynamism and complexity. A sample of small and medium-sized enterprises from the Canary Islands (Spain) was studied during 2005, and the Rasch methodology was applied together with non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney). The conclusion reached is that the greater the uncertainty perceived, the greater the importance small and medium-sized enterprises attach to strategic alliances. Furthermore, the group of small and medium-sized enterprises that perceive their environment as being highly uncertain and that attach more importance to forming strategic alliances are characterised by being larger than other small and medium-sized enterprises. This study makes an important contribution by considering the perceptions of managers of small and medium-sized enterprises as key determining factors in understanding these firms' strategic processes. This contribution is reinforced through the use of the Rasch methodology.