Which term is commonly used to describe a partnership where two companies share resources for mutual benefit?

A strategic alliance is a partnership between two companies that agree to work together towards shared goals, allowing them to leverage each other's strengths and resources without merging into a single entity. This arrangement enables companies to maintain their independence while collaborating on specific projects or aspects of their businesses.

Strategic alliances can take various forms, such as joint marketing efforts, shared research and development, or cooperative production efforts, which can lead to increased efficiency, reduced costs, or enhanced innovation. The primary goal is mutual benefit, allowing the partners to achieve objectives that they might not be able to accomplish as effectively individually.

In contrast, a franchise represents a business model where one party licenses its trademark and trade name to another, and a merger involves two companies combining to form a single entity. An acquisition is a process in which one company takes over another, gaining control over its operations. Each of these terms reflects different structures of business relationships and objectives, distinguishing them from the collaborative nature of a strategic alliance.