What role(s) can artifacts play in improving mutual understanding between partners within asymmetric alliances?
The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of artifacts as a means for reducing difficulties of mutual understanding in asymmetric alliances. Drawing on a qualitative study based on six cases of alliances between Tunisian SMEs and European multinationals, we highlight a set of boundaries impeding the mutual understanding between partners such as cultural, terminological, linguistic, managerial and geographical barriers. Our research shows that the development of manual and digital artifacts generates a double effect. On one hand, these artifacts enable partners of asymmetrical alliances to prevent possible conflicts that can cause problems between them. On the other hand, when they are associated with strategic alliances management mechanisms, these tools can help to significantly reduce the difficulties of mutual understanding and to resolve conflicts encountered between partners, in turn allowing to sustain their relationship.