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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ iv
INDEX OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... v
ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP ................................................................................... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. vii
DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................... ix
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... x
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Background to the Research............................................................................................. 1
1.1.1 Relationships, Partnerships, Alliances ................................................................. 1
1.2 Research Context: National Sports Organisations and Professional Sports Franchise .... 3
1.2.1 Football ................................................................................................................. 4
1.2.2 Rugby League ........................................................................................................ 5
1.2.3 Basketball .............................................................................................................. 6
1.3 Research Problem............................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................ 8
1.5 Overview of Methods ....................................................................................................... 8
1.6 Outline of the Thesis ........................................................................................................ 9
1.7 Key Concepts and Definitions ......................................................................................... 9
1.8 Delimitations of Scope and Key Assumptions .............................................................. 10
1.9 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 10
LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Tacit and Explicit Knowledge ........................................................................................ 11
2.2.1 Explicit Knowledge ............................................................................................. 11
2.2.2 Tacit Knowledge ................................................................................................. 12
2.3 Knowledge Based View (KBV) ..................................................................................... 13
2.4 Knowledge Transfer ....................................................................................................... 14
2.4.1 External Knowledge Transfer ............................................................................. 15
2.5 Alliances as a Source of External Knowledge ............................................................... 17
2.6 Learning in Alliances ..................................................................................................... 18
2.7 Inter-partner Learning in Alliances ................................................................................ 21
2.7.1 Intent ................................................................................................................... 23
2.7.2 Transparency ...................................................................................................... 26
2.7.3 Receptivity ........................................................................................................... 28
2.8 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 29
RESEARCH METHOD ....................................................................................................... 30
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 30
3.2 Research Approach ........................................................................................................ 30
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