Strategic alliance
A strategic alliance is a cooperative arrangement between organisations pursuing shared strategic benefits while retaining their separate identities. It can provide access to capability, markets or resources but creates coordination, dependency, data and governance challenges. Set clear objectives and measures covering the joint outcome and each partner’s contribution. An alliance differs from a full acquisition, and its precise legal and economic form affects control and accountability.
Worked example
A manufacturer and service provider cooperate to offer integrated support, with measures for response time, reliability and shared customer satisfaction.
Common mistake
A shared goal does not remove each partner’s separate incentives or make all relevant performance data automatically available.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | APM | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |
| ACCA | SBL | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |