Hana Fehrenbach's book examines organizational level transnational strategic alliances. Through the perspectives of dynamic capabilities and neo-institutionalism, the study explores the interplay of rationales, pathways and benefits of transnational alliances over time of leading universities of technology (TU9) in Germany. Complex inter-connected dynamics at the macro (i.e. society), meso (i.e. organization) and micro-levels (i.e. individual) are examined in this qualitative study driven by a deductive approach. These interrelated dynamics are then reflected in a recursive process model called STANCE, which depicts how through these types of alliances, institutions of higher education position themselves in single or multiple organizational fields to gain (more) strategic and social fitness. The study is timely, considering the paucity of comprehensive and theoretically anchored research on this contemporary phenomenon, and the need for policy-makers and senior leadership to make evidence-based decisions.

Autorentext

Hana Fehrenbach defended her doctorate at the Faculty of Cultural, Social and Educational Sciences at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany in 2022, which she pursued as the recipient of the Elsa Neumann Scholarship of the State of Berlin. Hana also holds a Master and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Queen's University in Canada.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Mapping the state of the art on transnational strategic alliances through a (systematic) literature review.- Strategic change or inertia? Theoretical underpinnings, framework and expectations.- Research Design and Methodology.- The empirical journey begins: meanings of transnational strategic alliances.- Positioning through transnational strategic alliances rationales for the why.- Selection, Management and Evaluation of Transnational Strategic Alliances the how.- Benefits of transnational strategic alliances.- Discussion.- Transnational strategic alliances as a response to the institutional environment: Concluding remarks.- Bibliography.