1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 NATURE OF THE PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVE
Due to the impact of globalization on our economy and the growing dynamic of markets,
competition between companies has changed over the last decades. Shorter product
life cycles, the pressure on prices, or the high costs of research and development for
better products have made it difficult for today’s companies to prevail against their
competitors in the contest for profits. But also the challenge to meet the high levels of
customers’ quality and service demand has weakened a company’s ability to differentiate
itself from its competitors. Especially small and medium-sized enterprises have to
face this problem when competing against bigger companies. Thus, these facts contribute
to the implication of finding new and alternative ways of gaining a strategic and
competitive advantage.
One measure of doing so is to establish so called strategic partnerships, by leaving the
stage of company-versus-company competition. By this means, the partners use synergy
effects and bundle their strengths to aim for growth and profit enhancement. Such strategic
partnerships have become very popular over the last years. This form of collaboration
is used in particular by large multinational firms to develop new products and services,
and to enter new markets.
Even though strategic partnerships are strongly increasing in number, approximately 50-
60% of them fail in achieving their original goals. Therefore, it is important to analyze
what strategic partnerships are, how they work and whether they are more suitable for
some areas than for others. The goal of this seminar paper is to discuss to which extent
strategic partnerships can help companies to gain a strategic advantage in the supply
chain. I will thereby focus on two points: Firstly, which are the areas most applicable
for strategic alliances? And secondly, what are the decisive parameters a company has
to take into account when building a strategic partnership?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Nature of the Problem and Objective
- Structure
- Basic Definitions
- Supply Chain
- Strategic Partnerships
- Competitive Advantage
- Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Strategic Partnerships
- The Cooperative Forms of Partnerships
- Strategic Alliances
- Areas of Application
- Entering Markets
- Defending and Expanding Competitive Positions
- Developing New Technologies
- Building Strategic Partnerships
- Preliminary Considerations and Prerequisites
- Steps of the Implementation of Strategic Partnerships
- Concluding Remarks and Outlook
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This seminar paper explores the potential of strategic partnerships to provide companies with a competitive advantage in the supply chain. It focuses on the different forms of strategic partnerships and their applicability to various business situations. The paper analyzes the factors companies should consider when building strategic alliances, including preliminary considerations and the steps involved in implementation.
- The impact of globalization and market dynamics on competition
- The role of strategic partnerships in overcoming competitive challenges
- The benefits and limitations of strategic partnerships
- The different types of strategic partnerships and their applications
- The factors influencing the success of strategic partnerships
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of strategic partnerships and their relevance in today's competitive landscape. It highlights the challenges faced by companies, particularly smaller firms, in staying ahead of competitors. The chapter also outlines the objective and structure of the seminar paper.
- Basic Definitions: This chapter provides definitions for the core terms used throughout the paper, including supply chain, strategic partnerships, and competitive advantage. The chapter also briefly discusses supply chain management.
- Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Strategic Partnerships: This chapter explores the different forms of strategic partnerships and their potential to help companies achieve a competitive advantage. It focuses on strategic alliances and examines their applicability in various areas, such as entering markets, defending competitive positions, and developing new technologies.
- Building Strategic Partnerships: This chapter focuses on the practical considerations involved in building strategic partnerships. It delves into the preliminary considerations and prerequisites for successful partnerships, as well as the steps involved in their implementation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This seminar paper examines the concepts of strategic partnerships, competitive advantage, supply chain management, and globalization. It focuses on the application of strategic alliances in various areas, including market entry, competitive positioning, and technological development. The paper analyzes the critical factors involved in building successful strategic partnerships.
- Quote paper
- Niklas Jeschke (Author), 2006, Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Strategic Partnerships in the Supply Chain, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/89183
