Global knowledge sourcing activities: the choice of research and development (R&D) alliance governance modes in the pharmaceutical industry

The dissertation investigates factors affecting the choice of global R&D (Research and Development) alliance governance mode and successful alliance collaboration performance in one of knowledge intensive industries (i.e., Pharmaceuticals). In the first study, by identifying a variety of R&D alliance modes used in the Pharmaceuticals, and classifying them into four categories, I go beyond the traditional binary equity vs. non-equity alliance classification. This enriches the study of alliance governance structure and broadens the application of alliance modes in what is today a more complicated international R&D collaboration setting. And then, I explore the multi-specific factors (e.g., national, industry and firm) affecting the choice of an appropriate R&D alliance governance mode. Using a sample of 237 alliance deals announced in between 2000 and 2003, I found that the R&D alliance governance modal choice is not attributable to a single factor (e.g., exogenous country-specific factors), but is influenced by multiple factors. But those multiple factors have different impacts depending upon whether firms involve in R or D. Specifically, the likelihood of using a more-integrated alliance governance mode decreases as the gaps in culture and quality of human capital between nationalities of partnering firms increase. On the other hand, national geographic distance and institutional environment difference are positively associated with the more-integrated governance mode. Furthermore, firms in the research stage are more likely to use a more-integrated governance mode, as opposed to firms in the development stage. These findings advance alliance governance structure research by opening the black box concealing the answers for paradoxical mixed-results on factors affecting the R&D alliance governance mode choice. The second paper enhances the study of R&D alliance governance structure as well as Knowledge-Based View of alliance by examining the relationship between coordination and communication structure of alliances and successful alliance collaboration performance. Using data from a sample of biopharmaceuticals, I found that the probability of successful alliance performance depends on the degree of interaction and complexity of alliance deal; such lower degree leads to a better performance due to reduced communication and coordination costs. However, this negative relationship is moderated by partner’s national diversity (i.e., domestic vs. foreign) and technological base complementarity in a way that alliances with less interactive and less complicated structure tend to have a better performance when the alliances are between domestic partners, and with similar technological bases. But when the alliances are more interactive and complex that increases coordination and communication costs, collaborating with foreign partners and partners with diverse technological bases contributes to a better performance even though the alliance governance structure incurs communication and coordination costs. The findings also provide insightful strategic implications to practitioners with regard to designing a suitable alliance governance structure for the better performance.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Jeongho Cho