Chapter 6: Behavioral Responses to Adverse Situations in Strategic Alliances

In this chapter, we develop a response strategy framework modeling behavioral responses to adverse situations in strategic alliances. Extant alliance literature treats behavioral responses as discrete and isolated reactions to adverse situations, which we call response strategies. Building on the results of a review of emerging literature and empirical research, we propose that seven identified response strategies should be conceptualized in a systematically integrated circumplex structure. Furthermore, we argue that response strategies are triggered by multi-level determinants generating a dynamic interaction pattern of actions-reactions between alliance partners. Building on these insights, we advance alliance development literature by opening the black box of response behavior and present directions for future research.