The placement of Starbucks cafés within Barnes & Noble bookstores has proven to be a successful strategic alliance because both companies benefit from this arrangement. As a global marketing strategy, an important characteristic of a strategic alliance is

A. the complete immersion of employees assigned to the alliance, eventually forming a separate company.
B. separation of company policies, procedures, and production, but unified financial accountability.
C. it must be a long-term venture of 10 or more years.
D. participant companies do not share costs or profits.