The influence of strategic alliances on human capital development: A study applied to technology-based SMEs
ISSN: 1450-2194
Article publication date: 18 December 2019
Issue publication date: 2 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of strategic alliances (knowledge/learning, efficiency and market motives) on the development of human capital.
Design/methodology/approach
To do so, a quantitative study was chosen, with data on technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Portugal, leading to 257 valid answers.
Findings
The results obtained from a structural equation model show that motives for strategic alliances (knowledge/learning, efficiency and market) have a strong influence on the human capital of the SMEs analysed.
Practical implications
These outcomes reveal that strategic alliances are a way for SMEs to overcome resource constraints in terms of human capital, representing an important implication for business practice. As strategic alliances influence human capital, the relations SMEs establish with other firms are increasingly important for their sustainability and development. Acting in isolation in the market can reduce this type of firm’s chances of survival.
Originality/value
Despite some studies relating the formation of strategic alliances and human capital, there is a gap regarding the relationship between the role of strategic alliances and human capital in the technology-based sector. Therefore, this research represents a contribution and innovation in academic terms in this area.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments that contributed to the development of this paper. The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from National Funds of the FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project “UID/ECO/04007/2019”.
Citation
Ferreira, A. and Franco, M. (2020), "The influence of strategic alliances on human capital development: A study applied to technology-based SMEs", EuroMed Journal of Business, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 65-85. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-04-2019-0052
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited