Managing international joint venture relationships - A longitudinal perspective

The purpose of the study is to describe and analyse the formation and devel opment of international joint venture processes and relationships between t he partners over time. Moreover, the study analyzes how far foreign partner s have been successful in developing new contacts and in expanding their ac tivities in local markets. We have carried out two case studies on joint ve ntures between Swedish and Indian partners. A number of in-depth interviews over a longer period of time are undertaken in collecting data. One major finding is that the more the partners learn about each other the more the u ncertainties decrease, and a stronger relationship is developed. Another fi nding suggests that development of existing and new relationships causes mo re commitment of resources in the joint venture, and the local market and t he companies involved are able to expand their business activities. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights resented.