Annabelle Jaouen and Katherine Gundolf
This paper aims first to identify the patterns and governance modes of strategic alliances between microfirms and second, to show that alliances between microfirms have specific…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims first to identify the patterns and governance modes of strategic alliances between microfirms and second, to show that alliances between microfirms have specific characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts a qualitative approach, based on a survey of 20 alliances. It uses semi‐directive interviews with entrepreneurs of multi‐activity sector firms and discourse analysis.
Findings
The paper proposes a typology of microfirm alliances, and highlights the importance of a coherent vision on the part of the partners: egocentered or co‐development logic. First, it explains alliance motivations, and presents the different alliance configurations: patterns, purposes, and entrepreneurs' relationships. Then, it analyses these configurations and governance modes, and shows several specificities: lack of formalisation, absence of contractual relationships, trust, and constrained trust. Finally, the paper questions the impact of strategic alliances on the development of microfirms.
Originality/value
The research contributes to the knowledge of microfirms' strategic behaviours by showing new results about the functioning of strategic alliances. It shows that informal relationships predominate, and it confirms the research into the role of trust for construction and success of interorganisational collaboration.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to present the results of a survey study on performance and healthiness measurement practices in a Tunisian software ecosystem. The study evaluates the five…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the results of a survey study on performance and healthiness measurement practices in a Tunisian software ecosystem. The study evaluates the five dimensions of software ecosystem healthiness: robustness, productivity, interoperability, stakeholder's (customer and employee) satisfaction and creativity in the Tunisian context.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research a questionnaire was developed and distributed to the 150 Tunisian software ecosystem partners.
Findings
The results of this study show that managers should analyze the robustness, productivity, interoperability, stakeholder's (customer and employee) satisfaction and creativity measures simultaneously in order to enhance the quality of the decision-making process.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, one software ecosystem and 60 partners were examined. Future research should increase the number of respondents and the software ecosystem in order to generalize these results.
Originality/value
This paper is unique in reflecting the general practices and perceptions of software ecosystem organizations on performance and healthiness measures in Tunisia.