Knowledge acquisition, knowledge loss, and satisfaction in high technology alliances

Drawing on the organizational learning and transaction cost economics (TCE) literature, this study examines how learning intent, opportunities to learn, and a firm's ability to learn facilitate or hinder three alliance outcomes: knowledge acquisition by the focal firm, knowledge loss to the partner, and alliance satisfaction. The research model proposes that firms attempt to influence learning opportunities based on a partner's intent and ability to learn as well as on the trust the firm has in the partner. A partner's learning intent and ability are positively associated with the extent to which a firm protects its own firm-specific knowledge, but they only have significant effects on one alliance outcome, knowledge loss. With more trusted partners, firms are less protective of knowledge and tend to acquire more knowledge, lose less knowledge, and be more satisfied. Equity alliances are associated with lower levels of knowledge loss and higher levels of satisfaction. (C) 2002 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.