Purpose Despite the criticality of strategic partnerships to the survival and success of professional service firms (PSF) in emerging markets, there is a dearth of research on the subject matter. Specifically, not much is known concerning the dynamics of partnerships among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the professional services sector of the economy. This paper aims to explore the dynamics of the impact of constructs such as attributes of partnership, communication behaviour and collaborative conflict resolution on partnership success. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey sent to 300 small and medium-sized PSFs achieved a 79% response rate. The data is then analysed using bivariate and multi-variate techniques. Findings The results revealed a positive relationship between two of the three constituents of attributes of the partnership (i.e. commitment and coordination) and the success of partnerships. Commitment and coordination emerged as the significant attributes of partners that affect the success of the partnership. Contrary to previous studies, trust and information sharing did not have a positive impact on partnership success. Practical implications PSFs in emerging markets need concerted efforts to maintain competitive and sustainable partnerships. To make any significant impact, they must develop contemporary skills in collaborative conflict management. Originality/value This paper highlights the need for PSFs and SMEs in other service sectors of emerging markets to harness partnerships as a valuable tool to overcome the policy shortcomings of current regulatory frameworks within their respective markets.

Purpose -With the reported high failure rate among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the professional service sector of emerging markets, coalescing their resources via strategic partnerships to effectively compete in the market place is seen as crucial to their growth and survival. This paper investigates the impact of attributes of partnership, communication behaviour and collaborative conflict resolution on partnership success among Professional Service Firms (PSFs) in emerging markets. It further contributes to the body of knowledge by exploring the moderating role of operational performance in the hypothesised relationships. Design/methodology/approach -Relying on a positivistic paradigm, 300 small and medium-sized PSFs were surveyed, yielding a 79% response rate. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical regression and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyse the collected data. Findings -A positive significant relationship was found between two of the three dimensions of attributes of partnership (commitment and coordination) and the success of partnerships. Despite their importance for partnerships, trust and information sharing negatively impacted partnership success in this study. A positive significant impact was however realised for trust and information sharing when operational performance moderated the relationship. Practical implications -PSFs must develop innovative and workable tools to effectively monitor their operational performance given its significant influence on the relationship between attributes of partnership, communication behaviour and partnership success. Social and cultural competence training is needed for staff to improve the relationship bond, trust and collective goals of partnerships. Originality/value -This paper introduces operational performance as a moderating variable to investigate the hypothesised relationships. It offers insights into how PSFs can manage the pertinent issues critical to the effective management of partnerships in emerging markets.