The emergence and growing trend of inter-firm alliances between indigenous oil companies and
foreign international oil companies in the Nigerian oil industry has elicited widespread
expectations of inter-partner learning and knowledge transfer through the alliances in the
industry. However the asymmetric nature of these foreign-indigenous alliances has also raised
the question as to whether or not and how learning and knowledge transfer takes place in these
alliances. Through explorative case study research this work examines the learning intents and
learning capacities of partner companies in selected cases of alliances as well as the types of
knowledge they acquired through the alliances. The major objective is to identify the pattern
of inter-partner learning and the factors affecting learning in such asymmetric alliances.
Based on the empirical findings relevant recommendations are provided for the managerial
practice in the industry and the implications for research are highlighted.
