How Firms Achieve Growth

15 important questions on How Firms Achieve Growth

The Build-Borrow-or-Buy Framework

A conceptual model that aids firms in deciding whether to pursue internal development (build), enter a contractual arrangement or strategic alliance (borrow), or acquire new resources, capabilities, and competencies (buy)

What are the options to close the strategic resource gap?

- Build - refers to internal development
- Borrow - refers to use of strategic alliances
- Buy - refers to acquiring a firm

How do firms evaluate the relevance of internal resources?

They test whether resources are...
1) Similar to those the firm needs to develop
2) Superior to those of competitors in the targeted area

NOTE: if both conditions are met, internal resources are relevant and the firm should pursue internal development
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Build-Borrow-or-Buy Framework: STEPS

1) Evaluate the relevance of internal resources (2 ways)
2) Determine whether your internal resources are superior to those of competitors. (use VRIO Framework)
(if no: internal development is not an option, so decide between borrow or buy)

(for external options..:)
3) Determine how tradable the targeted resources may be
4)

Build-Borrow-or-Buy Framework: What are ways to 'Borrow' resources from another company?

Licensing or Franchising

What happens if the resource is easy tradable?

The resource should be borrowed via licensing agreement or other contractual agreement.

What happens if the resource is not easy tradable?

The firm needs to consider...
- A deeper strategic alliance through an equity alliance
or
- A joint venture, or an outright acquisition

When should firms consider the M&A (buy) option?

Only if extreme closeness to the resource partner is necessary in order to understand and obtain its underlying knowledge.

Only if the 3 conditions (low relevancy, low tradability and high need for closeness) are met.

What are M&A's?

M&A = Mergers and Acquisitions

Merger: Two organizations join forces to become a new business, usually with a new name.


Acquisition: The purchase of one company by another; can be friendly or unfriendly.


- Most costly
- Complex
- Difficult to reverse

What is "Alliance Management Capability"?

A firm's ability to effectively manage 3 alliance-related tasks concurrently.

What are the 3 Alliance Management Capability tasks?

1) Partner Selection and Alliance formation
2) Alliance Design and Governance
3) Post-formation Alliance Management

Alliance Management Capability Tasks: 1) Partner Selection & Alliance Formation

The expected benefits of the alliance must exceed its costs.

What is needed for successful alliance formation?

- Partner compatibility
- Partner Commitment

Alliance Management Capability Tasks: 2) Alliance Design and Governance

Once 2/more firms agree to pursue an alliance, managers must design the alliance and choose an appropriate governance mechanism from among the 3 options.
oNon-equity alliance
oEquity alliance
oJoint Ventures

Alliance Management Capability Tasks: 3) Post-formation Alliance Management

The partnership needs to create resource combinations that obey the VRIO criteria.

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