Common use of Research Problem Clause in Contracts

Research Problem. Strategic alliances are formed by organizations and institutions to either exploit current resources and competencies or to explore new possibilities. Organizations seek to fully exploit the opportunities open to them so as to enjoy competitive advantage. For them to do that they must have ability to conceive, shape and sustain a wide variety of strategic partnerships (Doz & ▇▇▇▇▇, 1998). Economic theory view the expansion of business activity beyond the traditional boundary of the firm as motivated by the pursuit of product, rationalization, economics of scale, vertical linkages, and risk sharing (contractors and Lorange, 1988, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, 1996). The resources based view postulates that competitive advantages comes from having unique resources that create value in the market place (▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, 1996; ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Shuen 1997). Learning theory researchers have argued that firm form strategic alliances as a means of learning and expanding their knowledge and competence base (e.g., ▇▇▇▇▇ 1988a; ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, 1996, Inkpen 1998, 2000a, b). In the recent past, higher education sector in Kenya has experienced some dynamic change in the external environment as observed also by Mutua (2004). ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ University of Agriculture and Technology is collaborating with thirty middle level colleges in the domestic market. Several studies have been done on strategic alliances but very little in the education and training sector. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. (2005), studied strategic alliances in education and training services in Australia. They concentrated on strategic alliances prompted by globalization and need for internationalization, while they ignored strategic alliances formed in the domestic market in the same sector. This study sheds some light on strategic alliances formed between ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and middle level colleges in the domestic market. The study seeks to answer the following questions: What strategic motives drove JKUAT into forming strategic alliances with middle level colleges in Kenya? And, what key challenges are encountered by JKUAT in the management of the alliances.