An investigation into the nature of and factors influencing collaborative arrangements in kenya's media industry

Abstract

In the face of globalisation and liberalisation it is entirely plausible that collaborative arrangements have come to be strategic or useful to the companies involved in the collaboration. There exists a real danger for local companies of being of short-changed in the globalisation equation. Most companies in developing countries are currently facing a crisis due to extreme lack of resources. As a result of this state, during negotiation with a partner with more resources and one that can give today's solutions, they often sacrifice the future prospects or birthrights over today's benefits thus committing a cardinal sin of negotiating when tired and hungry. They will not care much for the future or the details since as the argument goes, what is the use of tomorrow when life itself is at risk or cannot be guaranteed? And yet no meaningful progress can be achieved without investment. On what basis is the existing collaborative arrangements predicated upon? Are they on economic expediency or a long focused integrated strategy for use of today's products for tomorrow's harvest through building of a critical mass to carry the organisations into the coming millennium? This study examines the nature of collaborative arrangements in the context of Kenya's media industry. It also seeks to identify those factors that drive their formation. The findings indicate that nature of collaborative arrangements in the industry, take several forms ranging from loose arrangements to strategic alliances. The extent of involvement as indicated by the findings is low. However, there is a discernible trend towards enhancing the degree and quality of involvement. It is possible that in years to come, these forms would have matured progressively to be of more strategic use than they are presently. It was evident from the study that several factors are also at play in influencing their formations. While access to markets and the need to overcome legal and political impediments were crucial for a foreign partner, resource limitations in the form of technology and capital, tended to take a more central role for a local partner in the collaborative arrangement. The study makes several recommendations on how collaboration can be made more beneficial to the parties concerned. The need to harmonise the objectives is important for staying on course the arrangements. Communication meshes the collaborative arrangements, thus enhancing its strategic value. Finally the study makes suggestions for further research. In light of the fact that, Kenya is emerging from a highly regulated economy to one that is gradually being liberalised, coupled with increased global interaction, the need for collaboration has never been more intense.