Article: A state-of-the-art review on international strategic alliances: do we really know what we are researching? Journal: European Journal of International Management (EJIM) 2023 Vol.21 No.3 pp.400 - 439 Abstract: This review explores recent literature on International Strategic Alliances (ISAs). Management of alliances requires a better understanding of different dimensions and components of ISAs and of their role. This review provides a state-of-the-art understanding of the concept using content analysis of 85 ISA articles. There is limited research on the concept of ISA and the components that affect the alliances' formation, post-formation and outcome. We found notable inconsistencies in the ISA literature on the concept. This highlights the need for further structuration of the concept and the need to provide characterisation that is more coherent. This review presents implications for the definition and future research avenues for the concept, especially regarding the theory, context and the scope of ISA research. Finally, this study provides a state-of-the-art discussion that proposes critical viewpoints for future development of the concept of ISAs, their influential components and their application in research and international management. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

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Title: A state-of-the-art review on international strategic alliances: do we really know what we are researching?

Authors: Susana C. Silva; Maria Elo; Jorma Larimo; Božidar Vlačić; Raquel Meneses

Addresses: Católica Porto Business School and CEGE, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal ' University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Copenhagen, Denmark; Belt and Road Institute of International Business School of Economics, Shanghai University, Shangda, Shanghai, China ' Department of Marketing, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland ' Católica Porto Business School and CEGE, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal ' School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

Abstract: This review explores recent literature on International Strategic Alliances (ISAs). Management of alliances requires a better understanding of different dimensions and components of ISAs and of their role. This review provides a state-of-the-art understanding of the concept using content analysis of 85 ISA articles. There is limited research on the concept of ISA and the components that affect the alliances' formation, post-formation and outcome. We found notable inconsistencies in the ISA literature on the concept. This highlights the need for further structuration of the concept and the need to provide characterisation that is more coherent. This review presents implications for the definition and future research avenues for the concept, especially regarding the theory, context and the scope of ISA research. Finally, this study provides a state-of-the-art discussion that proposes critical viewpoints for future development of the concept of ISAs, their influential components and their application in research and international management.

Keywords: international strategic alliance; alliance definition; state-of-the-art review; systematic literature review; alliance stage; alliance output.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2023.133936

European Journal of International Management, 2023 Vol.21 No.3, pp.400 - 439

Received: 22 May 2020
Accepted: 30 Sep 2020
Published online: 06 Oct 2023 *

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Title: A state-of-the-art review on international strategic alliances: do we really know what we are researching?

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