Interorganizational Entrepreneurship in a Global Arena

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 343-363, 2000

Posted: 11 Jun 2011

See all articles by Joseph Lampel

Joseph Lampel

Alliance Manchester Business School

Benson Honig

McMaster University

Date Written: 2000

Abstract

The evolution of interorganizational networks is shaped by micro and macro processes. At the micro level organizational dyads negotiate relationships in light of their own cost-benefit analysis. At the macro level resources flow through networks and are mobilized by coalitions. Current research is beginning to examine integrating mechanisms which link network dynamics to dyadic relationship formation. In this paper we examine interorganizational brokerage as an integrating mechanism linking micro and macro network processes. We focus on the formation of networks in the global television industry. The Children's Television Network (CTW) has licensed and co-produced its flagship program "Sesame Street" in many countries around the globe. Recently, it has expanded beyond a strategy based on direct first-order linkages to one of brokerage and interorganizational entrepreneurship, entailing the formation of second-order linkages--linkages between organizations with which CTW has direct first-order relationships. In the aftermath of the Oslo Peace Agreement, CTW acted as a broker and sponsor of a joint venture between Israeli and Palestinian broadcasters. The main challenge facing CTW was a high degree of distrust between the parties motivated by fears of opportunistic exploitation. Such fears typically result in high transaction costs, making joint venture formation difficult, if not impossible. In its capacity as broker, CTW worked to reduce transaction costs. This was done by providing resources where needed, and by facilitating interaction and trust building between the parties. We describe CTW's tactics during the formation of this joint venture, and we analyze the outcome of the joint venture from the point of view of CTW's overall strategy. We conclude by discussing CTW's network and brokerage strategy in the aftermath of the joint venture.

Keywords: interorganizational networks, Oslo peace agreement, Sesame street, Palestinians, Israelis, children television, joint ventures

Suggested Citation

Lampel, Joseph and Honig, Benson, Interorganizational Entrepreneurship in a Global Arena (2000). International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 343-363, 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1862834

Joseph Lampel (Contact Author)

Alliance Manchester Business School ( email )

Harold Hankins Building
room 9.21
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United Kingdom
0161-820-8344 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/joseph.lampel/furtherinformation

Benson Honig

McMaster University ( email )

1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M4
Canada

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