Strategic alliances, joint ventures and all sorts of other collaborations, all the way to mergers and acquisitions, are essential in today's networked global economy. It is hard to find a very successful global or national firm, that has not considered or implemented methods to intensely collaborate with other firms.

These arrangements can offer organisations (for profit or non-profit or governmental) opportunities to access new and innovative resources and to acquire new capabilities with increased speed , precision and relevance for fast-moving markets. Such collaborations can lead to improved competitiveness, but they can also highlight the deficiencies in a firm.

Although close relationships between organisations can deliver unique benefits, strategic alliances and networks fail often. This paper will give you the ability to consider strategic alliances and networking as part of the arsenal of strategic tools available to leaders in entities of all types and sizes.

This paper is a net-based paper with a strong emphasis on practical relevance, which means that it is less a research-based paper but one to emphasise application and practical contribution. There are no face-to-face class sessions, but more than a dozen video lectures and several live video sessions, to present and discuss the material. There is also a 'secret' Facebook group "WMSAlliances17", where all customers and the presenter come together for discussions of material, questions and answers, and other relevant posts. You may use your own Facebook account or create a blank new one, and you are assigned into this group by sending a friend request to www.facebook.com/jenshmueller . You will also need to download the app from zoom.us to be able to access the live video sessions.

This paper includes:

1. 13 video presentations with presentation material and integrated PowerPoint slides, accessible via a video link for multiple viewings. Each of the links is provided before the Monday of each class week, usually 1-2 weeks in advance), so customers can schedule the viewings as they please and with maximum flexibility. Each video presentation is between 35 and 50 minutes in length and includes review questions.

2. 15 live video sessions (of which each customer must attend at least 4 as part of the assessments), to discuss current topics, answer questions and review the material. The video sessions are scheduled throughout the semester and some or during the day, some in the evenings and some on weekends.

3. Several case books as downloadable files, no charge to any WMS customer, where individual cases are assigned throughout the paper, and available for review.

4. An online 'secret' group for this paper only, on Facebook, free for all WMS customers by invitation only, to discuss material, answer questions and post updates to the paper content.

1. This paper is supported through an online 'secret' group on Facebook: "WMSAlliances2016". You must apply to the instructor for access.

2. This paper is supported by 15 online live video sessions, each 30-60 minutes. You must use the access codes in this outline for video participation.