Identifying and Classifying the Determinant Factors of Knowledge Transfer in Strategic Alliances

Knowledge-based activities are the basis of sustainable competitive advantage in today´s economy. Resource-and knowledge-based authors claim that firms should focus on the creation and accumulation of knowledge-based competencies in order to yield long-term survival. Several authors have emphasized the value addition of alliance relationships in the knowledge development and learning processes of organizations. Over the past decades, thanks to the opportunities provided by the inter-firm co-operations for knowledge transfer, knowledge access and learning, strategic alliances have become one of the most useful organizational form for creating new knowledge in technology, product and market development. This paper aims to identify and classify factors affecting knowledge transfer in strategic alliances. First, knowledge-related issues in strategic alliance literature are reviewed. Second, the importance of recognizing factors affecting knowledge transfer through strategic alliances is considered. Finally, the paper suggests a classification of factors that should be considered by alliance managers and all professionals involved in policy making, planning and executing inter-firm alliances. Four categories are distinguished: the characteristics of knowledge, the factors related to absorptive capacity, the reciprocal behavior of the partners, and finally, the nature and form of alliance activity