Strategic alliances and organisational buying: an empirical study of the healthcare industry

Abstract

The entire healthcare market is characterised by an inordinate degree of competitiveness, leading to cost pressures that compel healthcare managers to continually seek opportunities to reduce costs and inefficiencies. One model of cost management emerging in the healthcare market is that of strategic alliances. The current research focuses on the various strategic alliance orientations in the organisational buying sector of healthcare institutions. More specifically, the research examines organisational factors (e.g., the size of the hospital, type of hospital) and personal factors (e.g., number of years on the job, education level, gender, and age) as they relate to strategic alliance decision-making. Research findings of this exploratory study are presented and managerial implications are discussed.