Authors : Luis Valentim, Mario Franco and Joao Lisboa
Abstract: The main research objectives of this study are: To identify and categorize factors that SMEs take into account when deciding to enter an inter-firm alliance; verify the importance of innovation-related motives and measure the influence of firms’ characteristics on SMEs’ motives. To achieve this purpose, a random sample of 163 SMEs supplied by the Informa D&B Portugal database was surveyed by email and data was collected through an online questionnaire. For data analysis, a one-way ANOVA and Tukey test were used. From the findings obtained, the motives for entering inter-firm alliances were grouped into three different factors: Innovation, operational improvements and market reasons. Several significant differences were also found between manufacturing and service industries as well as between firms focusing on the domestic and export markets. This study seeks to extend the findings of previous inter-firm alliance literature and more particularly the motives for SMEs entering into such agreements and especially in the service sector.
Luis Valentim, Mario Franco and Joao Lisboa, 2013. Inter-Firm Alliances: A Mechanism to Develop Innovative Capacity in SMEs. International Business Management, 7: 198-207.