Marriage versus strategic alliance: soft and hard dissatisfaction and failure factors

Marriage can be defined as a social-institutional agreement or an institution or organisation in which interpersonal relationships are acknowledged. Divorce is an epidemic, and so is strategic alliance. Both are based on the actions and reactions between people in the context of interpersonal relationships. The number of marriages is going down and correspondingly divorces seem to occur at a more rapid rate, and this phenomenon is found in strategic alliance partnership too. Hence, just like marriages in the recent times, a majority of institutional partnerships fail. What makes a marriage, or a strategic alliance, tick initially? Many, which include romance and mutual desires, goals, and expectations as well as name and fame in the eyes of the public and in general life filled with happiness. However, just like most marriages, strategic alliance partnerships fail too at some point in time, marred by failure, dissatisfaction, bitterness, and yes, eventually, end in divorce. This article discusses findings derived from an empirical survey to identify critical soft and hard factors that negatively influence partnership or relationship dynamics. The article suggests remedial measures that may be used to avoid factors that lead to dissatisfaction and failure in the context of inter-organisational relationships.