A neural network analysis of the influence of strategic and relational motivation on acquisition of inter-organisational network ties in the Ghanaian automobile cluster. (2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xuhua, Hu; Addai, Michael; Danso, Bertha Ada; Ocloo, Chosniel Elikem
• Is Part Of: International journal of strategic business alliances. Volume 6:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 202
• Publication Date: 2018
• Subjects: strategic motivation -- relational motivation -- network ties -- acquisition -- inter-organisational; Strategic alliances (Business) -- Periodicals; 338.8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-6444

Abstract

The acquisition of inter-organisational network ties remains a functional pre-requisite in the survival of a business venture. We sought in this study, to explore the extent to which strategy-driven motivational factors and relational motivational factors significantly influence acquisition of inter-organisational network ties. Our data was procured from a sample of 150 managers and owners of small scale automobile firms recruited from an automobile cluster in Ghana. We adapted but modified a feed-forward neural network model where data propagate along the connections in the direction from the network inputs to the network outputs from the extant literature. Our results showed a complementary relationship between the effects of interactions that precede the development of cooperation among organisations and strategic forces which involve the deployment of a firm's core competencies. We proposed the need for automobile SMEs in Ghana to harness potential sources of competitive strength such as previous experience of working together with others.