Purpose of this paperThe purpose of this paper is to engage in a comprehensive review of the research on strategic alliances in the last decade. Design/methodology/approachAfter presenting a typology of diverse alliance governance forms, we review recent analyses of alliance formation, implementation management, and performance outcomes of collaborative activities. FindingsStrategic alliances developed and propagated as formalized interorganizational relationships. These cooperative arrangements represent new organizational formation that seeks to achieve organizational objectives better through collaboration than through competition. Practical implications (if applicable)The paper provides future research directions on partner selection, networks patterns and processes, understanding the integration in alliances through fusion, fission, and how to manage developmental dynamics.What is original/value of paper We conclude with some future directions for theory construction and empirical research.

Research on sustainability and innovation-driven economic growth has exposed a lack of sufficient knowledge in the governance literature about the appropriate extent of government involvement. This paper focuses on the governance of innovation and the intermediary role of the state. The author synthesizes the literature on governance and regulation and introduces the concept of intermediation in the innovation process. The paper employs the Triple Helix model, which describes interactions and intermediation between government, industry and universities, and extends it by looking at the role played by intermediaries, including public and private institutions, government bodies and independent organizations. A new theoretical framework for the analysis of intermediation and the governance of innovation is developed and applied to four case studies of intermediaries in the health technology cluster in the Greater South East region of the UK. The empirical findings demonstrate the heuristics of the intermediation concept and the application of the intermediation framework.

The question of whether and how research quality should be measured, and the consequences Research audits are therefore forcing the separation of teaching from research in UK business schools. With an estimated ratio of 71 full time students per research active faculty member in UK business schools, it may be time to consider a more appropriate, inclusive, and economical form of ranking for research in business and management.

Design and Methodology:This theoretical discussion is pursued in two separate sections. The first section reviews leading regulation theories that explain how governments in their decisionmaking capacity engage in regulation at macro-level of the entire socio-economic system. The second section follows from this argument and discusses the governance theory and alternative governance mechanisms designed and employed by governments to manage the strategic behaviour of the individual economic actors at mezzo-and micro-level of contract relationships.Findings: This paper discusses some of the current theories that underpin the analysis and interpretation of public administration practice, or public governance in different socio-economic systems. We look at some of the dominant postulates of regulation and governance, and question to what extent they can be accepted as universal principles in line with Kant's argumentation. Different types of governance mechanisms are compared and contrasted in the context of strategic actors such as: the public government as a regulating authority, and the firms as regulated economic actors. Originality and Value:The argument in this paper is that governments as regulators of national socio-economic systems are strategic actors in their capacity to actively shape the regulatory environment, implementing various coordination mechanisms that facilitate the functioning of the economy and the society. We attempt to make some ethical judgements on market imperfections and government imperfections in line with Kant's concept of universal moral order.

The purpose of this paper is to explain the development of ecosystems and platforms to manage customer information, and to identify the management, research and teaching implications of this evolution. Design/methodology/approach This article is based on research and industrial experience of two of the co-authors in customer relationship management, further developed with other co-authors in the field of business models, the research and teaching experience of the university authors, and cross-functional literature reviews in the areas of strategy, marketing, economics, organizational behaviour and information management. Findings The findings of this paper show that digitalization, cloud computing and new information-based platforms are beginning to change how customer information is being managed, creating new opportunities for improving marketing, customer relationship management and business strategy. Research limitations/implications Needs confirmation of views by primary empirical research. Practical implications Identifies the need for senior marketing management to examine closely how internal and external/public customer information platforms may enhance their capability for managing customers and setting new strategic directions. Originality/value Highlights the move to customer information platforms and identifies how senior managers should consider them as an option for better customer information management and as a basis for new business strategies.