Chapter 9 . Organizational Alliances , Partnerships , and Networks

Although the literature on organizational alliances and networks focuses primarily on private sector organizations, public sector organizations have long confronted pressures to manage their environments through the formation of alliances. Moreover, several organizational theorists have posited that private and public sector alliances are becoming more prevalent, particularly in the realm of research and development (Eisenhardt and Schoonhoven 1996; Freeman 1991; Hagedoorn 1995). Public/private science and technology partnerships can help focus new research initiatives toward addressing collective and public issues, such as health, national security, and environmental protection. These partnerships also promote public and private cost sharing to achieve science goals and objectives. Finally, science partnerships could encourage more efficient and effective science, reducing redundancies, eliminating excessive and/or unproductive competition, and encouraging synergy and cooperation where needed. In addition, public science policy will have to address when, where, and how to promote scientific partnerships with developing countries and/or other international or global scientific alliances/partnerships.