STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: In the Kenyan banking industry, the banks have adopted several strategies aimed at improving their competitive position in a highly competitive market. In reference to the aforementioned the general objective, this study specifically sought to examine how strategic alliances impact financial returns among Nairobi-based commercial banks. The current study specifically examined how brand marketing alliances, agency alliances, innovation alliances and technology alliances affect bank performance. Methodology: This study was based on Transactional Cost, Control Power and Resource Based View theories. The study utilized descriptive research design, that targeted all 39 fully operational commercial banks in Nairobi. The unit of observation was the operations/ relationship manager and the finance manager across each commercial bank. The sample population consisted of 78 respondents. Census sampling was adopted to enhance representation of the respondents. Primary and secondary sources of data provided data which was then be analyzed in SPSS 23 using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study employed means, standard deviation, correlation and regression methods of analysis, with results being presented using figures, tables and other infographics. Results: An 85% response rate was received. The correlation results showed a positive and significant effect of brand marketing, agency, innovation and technological alliances on banks’ profitability. The regression findings revealed that jointly brand marketing, agency, innovation and technological alliances predict 38.3% of shifts in profits generated by the banks. The study concluded that brand marketing alliances, agency alliances and technology alliances had a significant effect on profitability, while innovation alliances had an insignificant effect. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that banks should constantly review their agency banking to ensure they are aligned to their financial goals. Lastly, commercial banks should strive to spur their research and development which can help drive their technological innovations.

Russia — Brazil: approval of the strategic partnership

The article examines the state and prospects for the development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Brazil. The investment component of bilateral economic relations and military-technical cooperation are considered. Quantitative indicators on the volumes and dynamics of bilateral foreign trade turnover, the structure of trade operations are given. The emphasis is placed on the strategic partnership and technological alliance of the two countries declared at the interstate level. The reasons hindering the development of bilateral cooperation are analyzed. The areas where cooperation would contribute to the creation of technological alliances are highlighted. The peculiarities of Brazil`s foreign trade policy are studied, including in relation to Russian products imported by the country. In comparative terms, the main economic indicators of the two countries are given. In conclusion, the views aimed at strengthening and expanding Russian-Brazilian economic relations are expressed. The relevance of the topic is due to the approved in 2018 the national project «International cooperation and Export», aimed at increasing Russian non-primary non-energy exports.

Platformization of institutional interactions in the context of stimulating innovations in industry

The study of theoretical approaches and conceptual analysis helped to clarify the definition of “platformization” from the point of view of network interactions and technological modernization of Russian industry, which formed the basis for the model of institutional interactions platformization, based on the formation of technological alliances that promote innovations, joint value creation by network participants and breakthrough industrial development. On the basis of the dynamic approach, a matrix of positioning of the subjects of the Russian Federation has been constructed, reflecting their distribution in four quadrants, depending on the level and pace of innovative development, and allowing to identify a low share of regions, the regions that demonstrate an intensive increase in innovation activity together with a high rating and a high share of regions that are considered stable weak innovators. The definition of platformization has been formulated in the context of technological development of industry, which distinguishes the use of this category from the “digital” aspect presented in the literature.

Innovation Intermediaries in Technological Alliances

Technological alliances play an important role in generating innovations but face the challenge of effective matchmaking when finding suitable partners in “open innovation” among networks of innovating firms. Intermediaries refer to those external mechanisms/institutions that can appropriately support companies in their innovation-related activities. They are frequently used to build a bridge between different competency constraints among companies. The purpose of this paper was to try to understand the role of a firm’s alliances within the context of open innovation. What do innovation intermediaries of collaborative partners contribute? Using the “Strategic Alliance Database” established by the National Science Council (NSC) in Taiwan as a basis, this study empirically explored the brokerage roles in the alliance that intermediaries take on to facilitate technological innovation and an innovation process. By using the technique of two-mode network analysis for social network analysis, this research focused on the question of how a technological alliance creates a platform for firms to execute matchmaking for new and/or relevant partners. The results presented here reveal that brokerage roles can be used to develop collaborations. The strategic position of the intermediary can activate different resources from the ones embedded in an alliance network.

Impact of Technological Alliances Between Asymmetrical Firms on Icts Appropriation

<p>The study evaluates the contribution of technological cooperation between asymmetrical firms to reduce the digital divide. To do this, we assess the impact of technological alliances between Euro-Mediterranean firms on ICTs appropriation by especially Tunisian firms. But it mustn’t be studied independently of strategic and demographic contexts. The article presents a quantitative study based on a survey which was conducted among a sample of 155 companies. We led logistic multinomial regressions to estimate the model and valid the hypothesis.</p>