The orchestration of alliance portfolios: The role of alliance portfolio capability

This study offers a longitudinal analysis of the processes of orchestration in alliance portfolios. These processes are captured through an examination of critical events and changes in the strategic actions of focal actors. By studying how alliance portfolios are orchestrated and how relationships are managed, we complement both the endogenous and exogenous perspectives on network change. Drawing on an analysis of two cases from the Pakistani automotive industry, we show that the orchestration of alliance portfolios is driven by actors' alliance portfolio capability and their strategic choices in relation to which partners to pursue and which knowledge requirements to prioritize.