Strategic　alliance　can　aid　firms　to　build　and　sustain　their　competitive　advantages.　Firms　set　up　strategic　alliance　mainly　for　two　purposes:　resource　acquisition　and　capability　learning.　Formal　control　and　social　control　are　two　widely　adopted　control　mechanisms　to　secure　the　effectiveness　of　strategic　alliance.　In　this　study,　we　construct　a　model　to　analyze　the　choice　of　control　mechanisms　based　on　alliance　motivations　and　the　influence　of　control　mechanisms　on　alliance　performance.　Based　on　a　survey　of　607　Chinese　firms,　we　find　that　when　resource　acquisition　is　the　key　motivation　behind　alliance,　formal　control　should　be　enhanced.　Whereas　when　capability　learning　is　the　main　purpose　of　alliance,　social　control　becomes　a　better　choice.　Furthermore,　this　research　also　finds　that　the　impact　of　both　formal　control　and　social　control　on　alliance　performance　are　nonlinear.　Suggestions　are　provided　on　how　to　effectively　use　control　mechanisms　to　attain　the　purposes　of　strategic　alliance　and　on　how　to　use　control　mechanisms　to　enhance　alliance　performance.　©　Higher　Education　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　2009.