IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i23p6594-d289797.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Vertical vs. Horizontal: How Strategic Alliance Type Influence Firm Performance?

Author

Listed:
  • Baojun Yu

    (Department of Management Science and Engineering, School of Management, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China)

  • Hangjun Xu

    (Department of Marketing, McAfee School of Business, Union University, Jackson, TN 38305, USA)

  • Feng Dong

    (Department of Finance, School of Business, Siena College, Loudonville, NY 12211, USA)

Abstract

Strategic alliances have become a key focus in the management and marketing literature. However, much of the previous research in this area has focused on the antecedents and accounting effects of strategic alliances. There is an opportunity to more closely examine how alliance types might influence the public equity markets. As a result, this study summarizes the literature for the theoretical foundation of strategic alliances to increase the understanding of the two main types of strategic alliances, that is industry scope (vertical vs. horizontal alliances) and size scope (asymmetric vs. symmetric alliances). Then, this study proposes a conceptual framework to examine the main and relative effects between different types of strategic alliances and firm performance. Using the Bloomberg Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) database from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2016, we find that vertical symmetric alliances gain more abnormal returns than others. Finally, implications and limitations are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Baojun Yu & Hangjun Xu & Feng Dong, 2019. "Vertical vs. Horizontal: How Strategic Alliance Type Influence Firm Performance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-14, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6594-:d:289797
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/23/6594/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/23/6594/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gautam Ahuja, 2000. "The duality of collaboration: inducements and opportunities in the formation of interfirm linkages," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 317-343, March.
    2. Kartik Kalaignanam & Venkatesh Shankar & Rajan Varadarajan, 2007. "Asymmetric New Product Development Alliances: Win-Win or Win-Lose Partnerships?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(3), pages 357-374, March.
    3. Namgyoo K. Park, 2004. "A guide to using event study methods in multi‐country settings," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(7), pages 655-668, July.
    4. Xu, Hangjun & Guo, Huiling & Zhang, Jing & Dang, Anh, 2018. "Facilitating dynamic marketing capabilities development for domestic and foreign firms in an emerging economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 141-152.
    5. Ulrich Wassmer & Pierre Dussauge, 2012. "Network resource stocks and flows : How do alliance portfolios affect the value of new alliance formations?," Post-Print hal-02313044, HAL.
    6. Akbar Zaheer & Bill McEvily & Vincenzo Perrone, 1998. "Does Trust Matter? Exploring the Effects of Interorganizational and Interpersonal Trust on Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 141-159, April.
    7. Bharat N. Anand & Tarun Khanna, 2000. "Do firms learn to create value? The case of alliances," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 295-315, March.
    8. Ulrich Wassmer & Pierre Dussauge, 2012. "Network resource stocks and flows: how do alliance portfolios affect the value of new alliance formations?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(7), pages 871-883, July.
    9. Toby E. Stuart, 2000. "Interorganizational alliances and the performance of firms: a study of growth and innovation rates in a high‐technology industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(8), pages 791-811, August.
    10. Paul W Beamish & John C Banks, 1987. "Equity Joint Ventures and Theory of the Multinational Enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, June.
    11. Su, Han Chan & Kensinger, John W. & Keown, Arthur J. & Martin, John D., 1997. "Do strategic alliances create value?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 199-221, November.
    12. Guo, Huiling & Xu, Hangjun & Tang, Chuanyi & Liu-Thompkins, Yuping & Guo, Zhaoyang & Dong, Baobao, 2018. "Comparing the impact of different marketing capabilities: Empirical evidence from B2B firms in China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 79-89.
    13. Pierre Dussauge & Bernard Garrette & Will Mitchell, 2004. "Asymmetric performance: the market share impact of scale and link alliances in the global auto industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(7), pages 701-711, July.
    14. Luo, Yadong, 2007. "A coopetition perspective of global competition," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 129-144, June.
    15. Wilfred Amaldoss & Robert J. Meyer & Jagmohan S. Raju & Amnon Rapoport, 2000. "Collaborating to Compete," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(2), pages 105-126, November.
    16. Lihua Wang & Edward J. Zajac, 2007. "Alliance or acquisition? a dyadic perspective on interfirm resource combinations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(13), pages 1291-1317, December.
    17. Bernard Garrette & Pierre Dussauge & W. Mitchell, 2004. "Asymmetric performance: the market share impact of scale and link alliances in the global auto industry," Post-Print hal-00458748, HAL.
    18. Ulrich Wassmer & Pierre Dussauge, 2012. "Network resource stocks and flows: how do alliance portfolios affect the value of new alliance formations?," Post-Print hal-00696858, HAL.
    19. Gnyawali, Devi R. & Park, Byung-Jin (Robert), 2011. "Co-opetition between giants: Collaboration with competitors for technological innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 650-663, June.
    20. Wheelwright, Steven C. & Clark, Kim B., 1992. "Competing through development capability in a manufacturing-based organization," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 29-43.
    21. Joanne Oxley & Tetsuo Wada, 2009. "Alliance Structure and the Scope of Knowledge Transfer: Evidence from U.S.-Japan Agreements," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 55(4), pages 635-649, April.
    22. Xavier Giroud & Holger M. Mueller, 2011. "Corporate Governance, Product Market Competition, and Equity Prices," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 66(2), pages 563-600, April.
    23. Kimberly C. Gleason & Ike Mathur & Roy A. Wiggins, III, 2003. "Evidence on Value Creation in the Financial Services Industries through the Use of Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 38(2), pages 213-234, May.
    24. Su Han Chan & John W. Kensinger & Arthur J. Keown & John D. Martin, 1999. "When Do Strategic Alliances Create Shareholder Value?," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 11(4), pages 82-87, January.
    25. Dovev Lavie, 2007. "Alliance portfolios and firm performance: A study of value creation and appropriation in the U.S. software industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(12), pages 1187-1212, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wei Feng & Ling Zhao & Yue Chen, 2022. "Research on Collaborative Innovation Mode of Enterprise Group from the Perspective of Comprehensive Innovation Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Cannavale, Chiara & Esempio, Anna & Ferretti, Marco, 2021. "Up- and down- alliances: A systematic literature review," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    3. Hsu, Wen-Yi, 2020. "The Strategic Alliance in 5G Development in Taiwan: A Resource-based Approach," ITS Conference, Online Event 2020 224856, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    4. Min Ho Ryu & Jieun Park & Kyu Tae Kwak, 2020. "Joint Ventures between Online Portals and News Publishers: Will they be an Alternative to Symbiosis?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dovev Lavie & Randi Lunnan & Binh Minh T. Truong, 2022. "How does a partner's acquisition affect the value of the firm's alliance with that partner?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(9), pages 1897-1926, September.
    2. Tom Broekel & Matthias Brachert, 2015. "The structure and evolution of inter-sectoral technological complementarity in R&D in Germany from 1990 to 2011," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 755-785, September.
    3. Casanueva, Cristóbal & Gallego, Ángeles & Sancho, María, 2013. "Network resources and social capital in airline alliance portfolios," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 441-453.
    4. Doohee Chung & Marco Jinhwan Kim & Jina Kang, 2019. "Influence of alliance portfolio diversity on innovation performance: the role of internal capabilities of value creation," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 1093-1120, November.
    5. Cobeña, Mar & Gallego, Ángeles & Casanueva, Cristóbal, 2017. "Heterogeneity, diversity and complementarity in alliance portfolios," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 464-476.
    6. Cho, Sam Yul & Arthurs, Jonathan D., 2018. "The influence of alliance experience on acquisition premiums and post-acquisition performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-10.
    7. Cannavale, Chiara & Esempio, Anna & Ferretti, Marco, 2021. "Up- and down- alliances: A systematic literature review," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    8. Manuela N. Hoehn-Weiss & Samina Karim & Chi-Hyon Lee, 2017. "Examining Alliance Portfolios Beyond the Dyads: The Relevance of Redundancy and Nonuniformity Across and Between Partners," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(1), pages 56-73, February.
    9. Casanueva, Cristóbal & Gallego, Ángeles & Castro, Ignacio & Sancho, María, 2014. "Airline alliances: Mobilizing network resources," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 88-98.
    10. Kavusan, K., 2015. "Essays on capability development through alliances," Other publications TiSEM 8eb736a5-b217-4718-ac13-d, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    11. Michael Nippa & Jeffrey J Reuer, 2019. "On the future of international joint venture research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 555-597, June.
    12. Pangarkar, Nitin & Yuan, Lin & Hussain, Sairah, 2017. "Too much of a good thing? Alliance portfolio size and alliance expansion," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 477-485.
    13. Guo, Min & Yang, Naiding & Wang, Jingbei & Zhang, Yanlu & Wang, Yan, 2021. "How do structural holes promote network expansion?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    14. Piening, Erk P. & Salge, Torsten Oliver & Schäfer, Sebastian, 2016. "Innovating across boundaries: A portfolio perspective on innovation partnerships of multinational corporations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 474-485.
    15. Wei Han & Feng-Wen Chen & Yu Deng, 2018. "Alliance Portfolio Management and Sustainability of Entrepreneurial Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    16. Scaringella, Laurent & Burtschell, François, 2017. "The challenges of radical innovation in Iran: Knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity highlights — Evidence from a joint venture in the construction sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 151-169.
    17. Stienstra, Miranda, 2020. "The determinants and performance implications of alliance partner acquisition," Other publications TiSEM 7fdee0c2-d4d2-4f5b-95e3-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    18. Steffen Runge & Christian Schwens & Matthias Schulz, 2022. "The invention performance implications of coopetition: How technological, geographical, and product market overlaps shape learning and competitive tension in R&D alliances," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 266-294, February.
    19. Cuypers, I.R.P., 2009. "Essays on equity joint ventures, uncertainty and experience," Other publications TiSEM 8dc79e86-c625-467f-a450-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    20. Yi-Ju Lo & Tung M. Hung, 2017. "Is a powerful rival a right partner?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 661-690, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6594-:d:289797. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.