Strategic Alliances as Fundamental Management Strategies for Multinationals―Impact of Information Infrastructure―

Abstract

While coalitions among firms are not new in international competitions, their characteristics, are undergoing transformations, to bear more strategic nature than they used to. In other words, positioning of coalitions since 80's up to present are transforming from the subordinate management strategy into fundamental one, now being regarded as an inevitable measure for corporate survival, whereas traditional coalitions were often tactical. Under fierce competition in the international market, multinationals are facing challenge of deployment of strategic alliances in speedy and flexible manner for their future survival.

In this context it is evident that further progress of information technology is mandatory for multinationals to accelerate their strategy development. Globalization of informations are being and will be spurred all the more by expansion as well as sophistication of information networks. Whether multinationals win in competitions not solely depends on exploiting partners's management competencies to maximum rather than using their own through intellectual deployment of information infrastracture.