Effects of resource mix and internationalisation on alliance portfolio configuration

Studies focusing on the strategic outcomes of alliance portfolios are receiving attention recently. However, only a handful research addresses the areas of determinants of the portfolio mix or its characteristics. This study attempts to fill this gap by investigating the key drivers of alliance portfolio configuration. Drawing on multiple theoretical lenses and a two-dimensional typology of portfolio composition, a longitudinal study is developed and applied to a sample of multinational firms in the global hospitality sector. The results suggest that alliance management experience, brand image, and organisational slack play significant roles in predicting the type of alliance portfolio configuration. Moreover, focal firms' degree of internationalisation moderates the predicting effects. Using firm-specific factors, this study bridges the gap between firms' internal resource mix and alliance portfolio complexity, and sheds new light on how alliance portfolio configuration is defined, measured, and predicted. Implications for policymakers are also discussed.