IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jtecht/v49y2024i1d10.1007_s10961-022-09983-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining the conditions for signing a strategic alliance contract: a configurational approach to the biotechnology sector

Author

Listed:
  • Marisol Carvajal-Camperos

    (Rey Juan Carlos University, Campus of Vicalvaro)

  • Paloma Almodóvar

    (Complutense University of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas)

  • Ignacio Danvila-del-Valle

    (Complutense University of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas)

Abstract

Strategic alliances in the biotechnology sector are key to achieving the sustainable development goals of the Agenda 2030 and to boosting technology transfer, value creation and firms’ survival. This paper focuses on a momentum that has scarcely been analysed in the literature; from the moment a firm decides to form an alliance, to the moment the contract is signed. There are many combinations of antecedents that may influence the pre-alliance phase and lead either to the final signing of the alliance or to its cancellation. We base on the transaction cost theory and analyse how different combinations of possible impediments and firm-specific attributes affect the final contract signature. We use a qualitative comparative analysis on 69 firms in the Spanish biotechnology sector that belong to the Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio). The results help to identify and understand the different scenarios that may lead biotech firms to sign the strategic alliance contract.

Suggested Citation

  • Marisol Carvajal-Camperos & Paloma Almodóvar & Ignacio Danvila-del-Valle, 2024. "Examining the conditions for signing a strategic alliance contract: a configurational approach to the biotechnology sector," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 44-68, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:49:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10961-022-09983-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-022-09983-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10961-022-09983-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10961-022-09983-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alana Corsi & Fabiane Florencio Souza & Regina Negri Pagani & João Luiz Kovaleski, 2021. "Technology transfer oriented to sustainable development: proposal of a theoretical model based on barriers and opportunities," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(6), pages 5081-5112, June.
    2. Bouncken, Ricarda B. & Fredrich, Viktor, 2016. "Business model innovation in alliances: Successful configurations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3584-3590.
    3. Reshma H. Shah & Vanitha Swaminathan, 2008. "Factors influencing partner selection in strategic alliances: the moderating role of alliance context," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 471-494, May.
    4. Cheng, Cheng-Feng & Chang, Man-Ling & Li, Chu-Shiu, 2013. "Configural paths to successful product innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(12), pages 2561-2573.
    5. Carmona-Lavado, Antonio & Cuevas-Rodríguez, Gloria & Cabello-Medina, Carmen & Fedriani, Eugenio M., 2021. "Does open innovation always work? The role of complementary assets," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    6. Bruneel, Johan & D'Este, Pablo & Salter, Ammon, 2010. "Investigating the factors that diminish the barriers to university-industry collaboration," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 858-868, September.
    7. Koza, Mitchell & Lewin, Arie, 2000. "Managing partnerships and strategic alliances: raising the odds of success," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 146-151, April.
    8. Lei, David & Slocum, John W. & Pitts, Robert A., 1997. "Building cooperative advantage: Managing strategic alliances to promote organizational learning," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 203-223, October.
    9. Irina Isaeva & Marianne Steinmo & Einar Rasmussen, 2022. "How firms use coordination activities in university–industry collaboration: adjusting to or steering a research center?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1308-1342, October.
    10. Nadia Di Paola, 2021. "Pathways to academic entrepreneurship: the determinants of female scholars’ entrepreneurial intentions," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(5), pages 1417-1441, October.
    11. Yindan Ye & Thomas Crispeels, 2022. "The role of former collaborations in strengthening interorganizational links: evidence from the evolution of the Chinese innovation network," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1343-1372, October.
    12. Jin, Jason Lu & Wang, Liwen, 2021. "Resource complementarity, partner differences, and international joint venture performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 232-246.
    13. Kyle C. Longest & Stephen Vaisey, 2008. "fuzzy: A program for performing qualitative comparative analyses (QCA) in Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 8(1), pages 79-104, February.
    14. Douglas, Evan J. & Shepherd, Dean A. & Prentice, Catherine, 2020. "Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis for a finer-grained understanding of entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(1).
    15. Nielsen, Bo Bernhard, 2007. "Determining international strategic alliance performance: A multidimensional approach," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 337-361, June.
    16. Valdés, Alfredo Aguilar & Martell, Agustín Cabral & Martínez, Felipe Alvarado & Martínez, Tomás E. Alvarado & Contreras, Gerardo De León, 2013. "Alianzas Estratégicas Y Su Aplicación A Los Agronegocios," Revista Mexicana de Agronegocios, Sociedad Mexicana de Administracion Agropecuaria, vol. 33(July-Dece), pages 1-16.
    17. Williamson, Oliver E, 1998. "The Institutions of Governance," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(2), pages 75-79, May.
    18. Andreas M. Hartmann, 2019. "Negotiating for Strategic Alliances," Springer Books, in: Mohammad Ayub Khan & Noam Ebner (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Cross-Cultural Business Negotiation, chapter 3, pages 53-70, Springer.
    19. Das, T. K. & Teng, Bing-Sheng, 2003. "Partner analysis and alliance performance," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 279-308, September.
    20. Hervas-Oliver, Jose-Luis & Sempere-Ripoll, Francisca & Arribas, Ivan, 2015. "Asymmetric modeling of organizational innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2654-2662.
    21. T. K. Das & Bing‐Sheng Teng, 1996. "Risk Types And Inter‐Firm Alliance Structures," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(6), pages 827-843, November.
    22. Deeds, David L. & Hill, Charles W. L., 1999. "An examination of opportunistic action within research alliances: Evidence from the biotechnology industry," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 141-163, March.
    23. Pappas, Ilias O. & Woodside, Arch G., 2021. "Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA): Guidelines for research practice in Information Systems and marketing," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    24. Hugo Ernesto Martínez Ardila & Julián Eduardo Mora Moreno & Jaime Alberto Camacho Pico, 2020. "Networks of collaborative alliances: the second order interfirm technological distance and innovation performance," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 1255-1282, August.
    25. Saura, Jose Ramon & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo & Palacios-Marqués, Daniel, 2021. "From user-generated data to data-driven innovation: A research agenda to understand user privacy in digital markets," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    26. Alain Verbeke & Nathan Greidanus, 2012. "The end of the opportunism versus trust debate: bounded reliability as a new envelope concept in research on MNE governance," Chapters, in: Handbook of Research on International Strategic Management, chapter 2, pages 31-63, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    27. Ragin, Charles C., 2000. "Fuzzy-Set Social Science," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226702773, June.
    28. Sascha Kraus & Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano & Miriam Schüssler, 2018. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in entrepreneurship and innovation research – the rise of a method," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 15-33, March.
    29. John Hagedoorn, 1993. "Understanding the rationale of strategic technology partnering: Interorganizational modes of cooperation and sectoral differences," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 371-385, July.
    30. T. K. Das & Bing‐Sheng Teng, 2002. "The Dynamics of Alliance Conditions in the Alliance Development Process," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 725-746, July.
    31. T. K. Das & Bing-Sheng Teng, 2000. "Instabilities of Strategic Alliances: An Internal Tensions Perspective," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(1), pages 77-101, February.
    32. Ragin, Charles C., 2006. "Set Relations in Social Research: Evaluating Their Consistency and Coverage," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 291-310, July.
    33. Alejandro Bengoa & Amaia Maseda & Txomin Iturralde & Gloria Aparicio, 2021. "A bibliometric review of the technology transfer literature," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(5), pages 1514-1550, October.
    34. J Michael Geringer, 1991. "Strategic Determinants of Partner Selection Criteria in International Joint Ventures," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 22(1), pages 41-62, March.
    35. Manel Antelo & David Peón, 2021. "The Size of Strategic Alliances and the Role Played by Managers," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 287-313, June.
    36. Mercedes Teruel & Alex Coad & Clemens Domnick & Florian Flachenecker & Peter Harasztosi & Mario Lorenzo Janiri & Rozalia Pal, 2022. "The birth of new HGEs: internationalization through new digital technologies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 804-845, June.
    37. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226702766 is not listed on IDEAS
    38. Jiang, Xu & Li, Yuan & Gao, Shanxing, 2008. "The stability of strategic alliances: Characteristics, factors and stages," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 173-189, June.
    39. Stav Fainshmidt & Michael A Witt & Ruth V Aguilera & Alain Verbeke, 2020. "The contributions of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 455-466, June.
    40. Alain Verbeke & Luciano Ciravegna & Luis E. Lopez & Sumit K. Kundu, 2019. "Five Configurations of Opportunism in International Market Entry," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(7), pages 1287-1313, November.
    41. Ashish Arora & Michelle Gittelman & Sarah Kaplan & John Lynch & Will Mitchell & Nicolaj Siggelkow & Denisa Mindruta & Mahka Moeen & Rajshree Agarwal, 2016. "A two-sided matching approach for partner selection and assessing complementarities in partners' attributes in inter-firm alliances," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 206-231, January.
    42. Sai Yayavaram & Manish K. Srivastava & MB Sarkar, 2018. "Role of search for domain knowledge and architectural knowledge in alliance partner selection," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(8), pages 2277-2302, August.
    43. Jean-François Hennart & Alain Verbeke, 2022. "Actionable and enduring implications of Oliver Williamson’s transaction cost theory," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(8), pages 1557-1575, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Jin, Zhizhou & Zeng, Saixing & Chen, Hongquan & Shi, Jonathan Jingsheng, 2022. "Explaining the expansion performance in technological capability of participants in megaprojects: A configurational approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    2. Kang, Inwon & Han, Shin & Shin, Geon-Cheol, 2014. "A process leading to strategic alliance outcome: The case of IT companies in China, Japan and Korea," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 1127-1138.
    3. Nidthida Lin, 2020. "Designing Global Sourcing Strategy for Cost Savings and Innovation: A Configurational Approach," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(5), pages 723-753, October.
    4. Jui-Te Chiang & Chei-Chang Chiou & Shuh-Chyi Doong & I-Fang Chang, 2020. "Research on the Construction of Performance Indicators for the Marketing Alliance of Catering Industry and Credit Card Issuing Banks by Using the Balanced Scorecard and Fuzzy AHP," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Kumar, Satish & Sahoo, Saumyaranjan & Lim, Weng Marc & Kraus, Sascha & Bamel, Umesh, 2022. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in business and management research: A contemporary overview," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    6. Wagner, Stefan & Goossen, Martin C., 2018. "Knowing me, knowing you: inventor mobility and the formation of technology-oriented alliances," IRTG 1792 Discussion Papers 2018-007, Humboldt University of Berlin, International Research Training Group 1792 "High Dimensional Nonstationary Time Series".
    7. Zheng, Lu & Ulrich, Klaus & Sendra-García, Javier, 2021. "Qualitative comparative analysis: Configurational paths to innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 83-93.
    8. Oana Daniela Lupoae & Riana Iren Radu & Mihaela-Carmen Muntean, 2022. "Capturing Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Romanian Equine Sector: an Fs-Qca Approach," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 455-472, March.
    9. Enrique de Diego Ruiz & Paloma Almodóvar & Ignacio Danvila del Valle, 2023. "What drives strategic agility? Evidence from a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA)," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 599-627, June.
    10. Kier, Alexander S. & McMullen, Jeffery S., 2020. "Entrepreneurial imaginativeness and new venture ideation in newly forming teams," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(6).
    11. Xue, Jinjie & Yuan, Hongping & Shi, Benshan, 2016. "Investigating partners' opportunistic behavior in joint ventures in China: The role of transaction costs and relational exchanges," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(12), pages 6067-6078.
    12. Espeche, José Francisco Tragant & Sacristán-Navarro, María & Zúñiga-Vicente, José Ángel & Crespo, Nuno Fernandes, 2023. "Innovation and internationalisation during times of economic growth, crisis, and recovery prior to Covid-19: A configurational approach comparing Spanish manufacturing family and non-family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(1).
    13. Jorge Walter & Christoph Lechner & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2008. "Disentangling Alliance Management Processes: Decision Making, Politicality, and Alliance Performance," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3), pages 530-560, May.
    14. Pérez-Fernández, Héctor & Cacciotti, Gabriella & Martín-Cruz, Natalia & Delgado-García, Juan Bautista, 2022. "Are interactions between need for achievement and social networks the driving force behind entrepreneurial Intention? A trait activation story," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 65-76.
    15. Laouiti, Rahma & Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine & Nakara, Walid Adam & Onjewu, Adah-Kole Emmanuel, 2022. "A gender-based approach to the influence of personality traits on entrepreneurial intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 819-829.
    16. Eloy Gil-Cordero & Pablo Ledesma-Chaves & Sunghoon Yoo & Heesup Han, 2023. "Luxury tourism and purchase intention factors: a mixed approach applied to luxury goods," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-20, December.
    17. Chung, Jaemin & Ko, Namuk & Yoon, Janghyeok, 2021. "Inventor group identification approach for selecting university-industry collaboration partners," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    18. Borozan, Dj, 2022. "Detecting a structure in the European energy transition policy instrument mix: What mix successfully drives the energy transition?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    19. Anindya Ghosh & Thomas Klueter, 2022. "The Role of Frictions due to Top Management in Alliance Termination Decisions: Insights from Established Bio‐Pharmaceutical Firms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(5), pages 1315-1353, July.
    20. Nikolchenko, Natalia & Lebedeva, Anastasia, 2017. "Integrative Approach to Supply Chain Collaboration in Distribution Networks: Impact on Firm Performance," Conference Papers 10462, Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Strategic alliances; Biotechnology sector; Pre-alliance phase; Contract signature; Qualitative comparative analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures
    • L29 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Other
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:kap:jtecht:v:49:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10961-022-09983-5. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.