STRATEGIC ALLIANCES OF SMALL BUSINESS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Based on the outcomes of the literature survey and some interviews in the last year, I carried out a large-scale questionnaire survey for empirical analysis of inter-firm co-operation, especially co-operative R&D, of the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Among 1,577 answers from the surveys in April and July/August 2002 with 6,300 firms, 255 firms participating in a co-operative R&D as a main field of alliances were selected as the sample firms of the empirical analysis.In the questionnaire, I investigated mainly with what kinds of partners the SMEs co-operated in what kinds of organizational and contractual patterns, and what outcome they achieved from the co-operation. Based on the survey data, I carried out multiple regression analysis (Probit analysis) with the probability of "technological success" ("patent application of the outcome") and "commercial success" ("contribution of the outcome to safes growth) of the co-operative R&D as the dependent variables. Independent va … More riables are those of membership structure and organizational and contractual features. The results of the econometric analyzes support my basic hypothesis that these characteristics of the co-operation affects its probability for success. Specifically, I found that (1) the probability of success is significantly increased by the participation of large firms, firms in different industries and business partners, support from customers, as well as the past experience and the duration of the co-operative R&D, (2) own R&D activity is essential for the success of co-operation, (3) public subsidies have significantly negative effects on performance, (4) the co-operation with universities and research institutes rather tends to have negative effects on performance, (5) the most informal and flexible organization leads to success, and (6) the performance depends on the way the cost is shared and the outcome is distributed among partners. There are several interpretations for the negative effects of subsidies and university-industry- relationship, which presents one of the important subjects for further research. It is also noteworthy that the important determinants of technological and commercial success are quite different.Moreover, I carried out an empirical analysis of the effect of different kinds of inter-firm co-operations on the performance of firms using micro data of "the Basic Survey of Japanese Business Structures and Activities". I found that only co-operative R&D has significantly positive effect on future profit rate as well as increase of labor productivity and total factor productivity. Less