As an introduction to the course, an overview of general aspects related to strategic alliances will be presented. Methods to identify whether a company needs a strategic alliance, to choose the right type of alliance, to design and implement it, will be a core part of the course. Other relevant topics to be addressed include the following: Selecting the right type of partner. The strategic alliance life cycle and its management. The importance of alliances for companies with global strategies. The control of the alliance. Managing multiple alliances. Building an alliance management competence. The relevance of the “Human factor” and the impact of cultural differences in an International context. A more in depth analysis will be performed on strategic alliances specific to certain industries, such as Airline, Auto, Biotech/Pharmaceutical, IT among other.

Pre-requisites: Marketing