Bianca is CEO of That Special Something, a chain of fifteen, upscale gift shops in the western United States. She wants to expand her profits, and keep customers in the store for longer periods of time, by adding a small coffee and dessert shop to each store. With this in mind, Bianca is considering partnering with another company. Of the five candidates under consideration, the best choice would be the company

Question

A) that offers coffee and baked goods at the lowest price, with an emphasis on maximizing profits and customer turnover.
B) that wants Bianca to handle all aspects of management related to the in-store coffee shops.
C) run by a CEO who insists on keeping full control of the coffee shops' marketing, staffing, and other elements.
D) with a go-with-the-flow attitude and a goal to turn a $2 million profit by the end of the first year.
E) that specializes in gourmet coffee and treats and is interested in helping host after-hours dessert and shopping events.

Answer 1

E) that specializes in gourmet coffee and treats and is interested in helping host after-hours dessert and shopping events.
Explanation: The best strategic alliances have the following characteristics: both partners work hard on developing a positive working relationship; the partners measure how they are going to succeed, not just the end result; the partners embrace differences in one another; both partners encourage collaborative behavior with less emphasis on formal systems and structures; and the partners manage their internal stakeholders who are involved in the alliance. A company with products that will likely appeal to That Special Something's upscale clientele and that is willing to engage in collaborative behavior would be the best partner for a strategic alliance.