I suspect that the article has been cited for several reasons. First, strategic alliances are a popular strategy yet many are not successful. More knowledge of alliance partners could enhance the success rate. Second, very little research has been conducted on selecting alliance partners. But, selecting the right partner is critical to the success of an alliance. Third, identifying and differentiating the partner selection criteria used by partners from different countries could be important for selecting future partners.

  Does it describe a new discovery or new methodology that's useful to others?

The research resulted in several discoveries. We found that firms from emerging market countries and from developed countries alike seek to learn from their partners. They seek partners with complementary skills and a willingness to share their expertise. Both firms must meet their goals for the alliance to succeed. So, both partners must be concerned about their partners meeting their own needs.

  Is it a condensation of previous literature on the subject?

The paper draws on previous research but there is little work on alliance partner selection. It draws most heavily on the resource-based view and organizational learning literatures. It provides a unique integration of these theoretical approaches to explain alliance partner selection.

  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?