Which of the following is not an advantage of a strategic alliance? 

a. Helps a firm guard its proprietary technology

 b. Allows a firm to share the fixed costs of developing new products or services with another firm 

c. Alliances help facilitate entry into foreign markets

 d. Provides a forum for firms to bring together complementary skills and assets that neither company could easily develop on its own 

e. Helps establish technical standards in an industry