Understanding R&D Alliance Configuration using Fuzzy set analysis.

Alliances are an important tool for firms’ innovation performance. For alliance managers it is therefore of crucial importance to comprehend the drivers behind alliance success. In this paper we try to identify configurations of factors that affect the alliance innovation performance. We draw on Knowledge Based View to select two groups of individual factors that affect alliance innovation performance - i.e., (a) partner attributes (size, age, and experience) and (b) alliance characteristics (strategic orientation, and structure). Then, using a method based on fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, we try to identify the configurations of these factors in 33 R&D alliances formed by telecom firms during the year 2010. We found that older firms forming alliances with competitors may increase the innovation performance of the alliances in which they are involved. We conclude the study by suggesting a few propositions that might have theoretical implications for business and management research.