Strategic alliance This is the process of individuals or groups combining their resources to pursue common objectives. The purpose of individuals or groups creating such alliances, or coalescing, is to increase the ability to influence others and to secure greater control over resources. Labour unions leaders and members have long recognized the value of strategic alliance. "If I don't get a raise, I'll quit," will provoke little or no action on the part of management unless all the workers issue the same statement in unison. By strategic alliance, the group has considerably more influence with management. Even competing companies many form an alliance to lobby for or against proposed legislation. Normally, the greater the influence of the individuals or groups combining their resources to pursue common objectives, the more significant the strategic alliance effort will be. Many organizations understand the concept of strategic alliance and use it to gain a business advantage.