In the current highly competitive scenario, firms are increasingly establishing alliances and integrating networks to complement their resources, reduce uncertainties and sustain their competitiveness. This paper aims at highlighting the importance of taking into account in the management of firms embedded in strategic networks, the latter's implications for firm conduct and performance. It focusses on a Brazilian company that is the leader in the iron ore business - Cia Vale do Rio Doce - using case study methodology and new conceptual tools for strategic assessment from a relational perspective. Based on bibliographic, documental and empirical research, it shows how this perspective can provide new valuable insights for the strategic planning of the firm by revealing network implications, in terms of opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses, that reduce, neutralize or increase those identified by way of traditional strategic analyses.
Strategic Alliances; strategic networks; strategic management; strategic fit; strategic implications
