Knowledge development, social capital and alliance learning

<b>Purpose</b> – The purpose of this paper is to elucidate information on what creates the different types of knowledge.<br /><br /><b>Design/methodology/approach</b> – In the conceptual model it is argued that the concept of social capital provides an interesting view on the creation of market-specific and firm-specific knowledge.<br /><br /><b>Findings</b> – The major finding from the paper is that knowledge is an important by-product of an alliance forming process, a process commonly termed as alliance learning.<br /><br /><b>Research limitations/implications</b> – Both market-specific and firm-specific knowledge have implications on two main types of alliance learning, that of mutual and non-mutual learning.<br /><br /><b>Practical implications</b> – Alliance managers need to be aware that knowledge is a key driver as well as a beneficial outcome in the formation of alliances.<br /><b><br />Originality/value</b> – This paper examines how the different types of knowledge evolve and how these different types of knowledge impact upon alliance learning.<br />