Strategic Alliances as Social Facts: Business, Biotechnology, and Intellectual HistoryHow can we explain a proliferation of alliances when the probability of failure is higher than success? And why have we emphasized their order, manageability and predictability whilst acknowledging that they tend to be experienced as messy, politically charged and unpredictable? Mark de Rond, in this provocative book, sets out to address such paradoxes. Based on in-depth case studies of three major biotechnology alliances, he suggests that we need theories to explain idiosyncracy as well as social order. He argues that such theories must allow for social conduct to be active and self-directed but simultaneously inert and constrained, thus permitting voluntarism, determinism, and serendipity alike to explain causation in alliance life. The book offers a highly original combination of insights from social theory and intellectual history with more mainstream strategic management and organizations literature. It is a refreshing and thought-provoking analysis that will appeal to practitioner and academic researcher alike. |
Other editions - View all
Strategic Alliances as Social Facts: Business, Biotechnology, and ... Mark de Rond No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
activities agreement Alliances as Social appears approach April Berlin Bionatura biotech firm biotech partner biotech startup biotechnology Boteach Cambiogen cent ChemAnalysis collaboration combinatorial chemistry competitive complex context contributions cooperative Derek Lodge despite drug candidate drug discovery EarthMed empirical evolution evolve exist expectations explain formal genetic genomic gentlemen's agreement Giddens Giddens's human in-house individuals industry intellectual interactions interest interpersonal involved Isaiah Berlin joint programme Karl Amis lead compound lead discovery learning legitimacy legitimate Lodge Mark Amis merger monist Myco natural products chemistry negotiating organizational Oxygen particular partner firms partner organizations perspective Pfizer Pflegum Courtal pharmaceutical partner Plethora scientists pluralist potential prediction prostaglandin Proton punctuated equilibrium rational relationship relatively Rond Rummidgen screens sensemaking serendipity Social Facts social makeup Strategic Alliances strategic rationale structuration theory success suggested targets Teleological tion tradition trust value pluralism venture Viagra whilst