Towards a Revised Typology of Alliance Governance

Given the increasing importance of alliances, scholars have devoted much attention to understand how governance mechanisms explain alliance outcomes. Drawing on a detailed longitudinal case study of a revelatory strategic alliance in the veterinary drug industry, we revisit existing typologies of alliance governance mechanisms as discussed in current literature. Our findings suggest the relevance to develop a new typology of governance mechanisms combining the formal vs. informal and the contractual vs. relational distinctions. This revised typology of alliance governance allows us to observe the specific conditions under which different combinations of governance mechanisms have beneficial or detrimental effects on alliance outcomes. We discuss the theoretical implications of our insights for research on alliance governance.