SME–supplier alliance activity in manufacturing: contingent benefits and perceptions
研究了上游垂直联盟活动如何影响中小企业绩效，以及企业对这种关系的认知如何影响其参与联盟的决策。发现联盟活动能提升绩效，但企业认知不准确，导致本应受益较少的企业反而更多参与。
Abstract We address the following two questions: how upstream vertical alliance (UVA) activity affects the performance of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs); and how SME perceptions of that relationship influence the choice to engage in UVA activity. Using responses from a recent survey of business unit managers representing 200 SMEs, we find that UVA activity benefits SME performance when self‐selection effects are controlled. Instead of being a source of differentiation advantages, UVA activity leverages the SME's existing advantages. And, while SME perceptions appear to drive the self‐selection of UVA activity, those perceptions are inaccurate; the result is that the SMEs likely to benefit less from such activity engage in it more. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.