Antecedents and performance consequences of governance structures in R&D alliances

Traditionally governance structures are classified into ＂hierarchy or market＂ or ＂equity or non-equity.＂ However,such classifications may not be effective in characterizing all governance structures of research and development（R D） alliances.Therefore,the first objective of this study is to investigate why there exist different organizational governance structures in managing R D alliances;the second objective of this study is to give strategic advice in choosing appropriate forms with respect to various characteristics of R D alliances.Through the theoretical lens that integrate both transaction cost economics（TCE） and the resource-based view（RBV）,a model that focuses on six major factors is developed for determining governance structure choices,namely,technological uncertainty,cultural difference,asset specificity,technology complementarity,appropriability of the individual firm＇s know-how,and trust.An R D alliance with higher technological uncertainty,larger cultural differences,and greater concerns for protecting an individual＇s know-how is more likely to adopt non-integrated alliances as the governing structure.An R D alliance with a higher degree of asset-specificity,greater technology complementarity and greater trust among partnering organizations is more likely to adopt integrated alliances as the governing structure;an R D alliance in the face of lower technological uncertainty will tend to adopt integrated alliances.The more aligned the choice of the governance structure with its determinants,the better the R D alliance will perform,and vice versa.

The Organizational Working Conditions from a Governance Perspective:An Analytical Framework

To pursue high-quality development,China needs to create new working conditions for workers to improve the quality of their work."Working conditions"refers to the kind of working climate and state that people perceive in their organizations,a perception will have an important impact on their organizational behavior.Improving the working conditions of an organization is actually a social process of organizational governance.In observing organizational working conditions from a governance perspective,it is necessary to take into consideration"embeddedness"as a structural background and the work unit(danwei)as an institutional vehicle.It is imperative to emphasize both organizational order and the subjective perceptions of individuals.It also essential to analyze the organization’s social solidarity,its contlicts and integration and its protections and inclusion,the participation of its members,their interaction and the structure of their roles,and the organization’s structure and functions.This analytical framework provides a more comprehensive picture of organizational governance,which in turn reflects the organization’s working conditions and provides insights into overall research and dialogue in the disciplinary field of working conditions.