Dynamics of Strategic Alliance Management for Sustainability in the Wellness Business: An In-depth Analysis from the Perspective of Medical Executives
Main Article Content
Abstract
Most research on strategic alliances focuses on financial outcomes or consumer perspectives, lacking an in-depth understanding of the internal management dynamics of hybrid organizations, particularly in the wellness business, which must reconcile the conflict between medical standards and commercial services. This qualitative research employs a phenomenological approach, conducting in-depth interviews with five high-level medical executives from leading wellness organizations in Thailand operating under strategic alliances. The research aims to (1) study the dynamics and strategic driving factors in the formation of business alliances in the wellness industry; (2) analyze the relationship management process, conflict resolution mechanisms, and cross-functional integration from the perspective of medical executives; and (3) synthesize success models and practical guidelines for sustainability in managing wellness business networks for entrepreneurs in Thailand.
The findings reveal three key dynamic stages: (1) "From Capital to Trust," demonstrating a shift in partner selection criteria from financial factors to vision alignment; (2) "Medical Executive as Bridging Agent," revealing a new role where executives utilize joint standardization and co-creation mechanisms to mitigate institutional logic conflicts; and (3) "Ecosystem of Value," representing sustainability outcomes derived from cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer. This research synthesizes new knowledge in the form of the "3C Model" (Compatibility, Calibration, Co-evolution), expanding the Resource Dependence Theory and Institutional Logics Theory, with significant implications for developing medical leadership competencies and national wellness standard policies. This model can be applied as a Practical Framework for designing agreements and cross-sector collaboration structures to reduce failure rates and enhance the competitiveness of the Thai wellness industry.
Article history: Received 7 January 2026
Revised 10 March 2026
Accepted 13 March 2026
SIMILARITY INDEX = 0.00 %
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The views and opinions of the article appearing in this journal are those of the author. It is not considered a view and responsibility of the editorial staff.
References
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Battilana, J., & Dorado, S. (2010). Building sustainable hybrid organizations: The case of commercial microfinance organizations. Academy of Management Journal, 53(6), 1419–1440. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2010.57318391
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Das, T. K., & Teng, B. S. (2000). A resource-based theory of strategic alliances. Journal of Management, 26(1), 31–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920630002600105
Dhaundiyal, M., & Coughlan, J. (2020). The impact of alliance justice capability on the performance of strategic alliances in the Indian IT sector: The mediating role of inter-firm commitment. Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), 1716918. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2020.1716918
Dyer, J. H., & Singh, H. (1998). The relational view: Cooperative strategy and sources of interorganizational competitive advantage. Academy of Management Review, 23(4), 660–679. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1998.1255632
Gibson, C. B., & Birkinshaw, J. (2004). The antecedents, consequences, and mediating role of organizational ambidexterity. Academy of Management Journal, 47(2), 209–226. https://doi.org/10.2307/20159573
Global Wellness Institute. (2023). The global wellness economy: Country rankings. [Online], Retrieved September 2, 2025 from https://globalwellnessinstitute.org
Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation and variability. Field Methods, 18(1), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903
Kale, P., & Singh, H. (2009). Managing strategic alliances: What do we know now, and where should we go from here? Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(3), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2009.43779297
Mention, A. L. (2011). Co-operation and co-opetition as open innovation practices in the service sector: Which influence on innovation novelty? Technovation, 31(1), 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2010.08.002
Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council. (2023). The 13th national economic and social development plan (2023-2027) (in Thai). Bangkok, Thailand: Office of the Prime Minister.
O'Reilly, C. A., & Tushman, M. L. (2004). The ambidextrous organization. Harvard Business Review, 82(4), 74–81.
Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G. R. (1978). The external control of organizations: A resource dependence perspective. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Rajan, R., Dhir, S., & Sushil. (2020). Alliance termination: A systematic review and future research directions. Management Decision, 58(9), 1851-1882. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-06-2019-0792
Reay, T., & Hinings, C. R. (2009). Managing the rivalry of competing institutional logics. Organization Studies, 30(6), 629–652. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840609104803
Thornton, P. H., Ocasio, W., & Lounsbury, M. (2012). The institutional logics perspective: A new approach to culture, structure, and process. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.