E/B/284. Web Wonder: entering strategic alliance

The paper examines the notion of strategic alliance reviewing its definitions, and analyzing the strategy of Web Wonder, a UK Internet service provider. The company's prospects for establishing external business relationships are evaluated focusing on the role of trust, identifying types of trust and discussing the ways of avoiding betrayal by their new strategic partners. The paper addresses the following questions. 'What are the preconditions needed for Web Wonder's new strategic alliance to be effective in business relationship terms? How can Web Wonder try to ensure that the new business relationships can work? What are the bases for trust which can underpin external business relationships? How relevant are each of these in the case of Web Wonder's new strategic alliances? Identify measures that Web Wonder can take in order to avoid betrayal by their new strategic partners. How effective do you think these steps are likely to be? Give reasons for your conclusions'.