Alliances and Co-Evolution

REHAN UL-HAQ lectures in Strategic Management at The Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK. His current research is in the areas of strategic alliances and strategy. He is an associate member of the faculty at Henley Management College and also a consultant for the United Nations. His growing interest is in the co-evolution of strategic alliances particularly in the banking and fast growth firms sectors. He is the co-author of International Banking Strategic Alliances published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2003.

• Preface List of Tables List of Figures References List of Abbreviations PART 1: INTRODUCTION, STRUCTURE AND SUBJECT Introduction and Research Question Structure Structure Subject Conclusion PART 2: INDUSTRY LEVEL - THE LIFECYCLE OF STRATEGIC ALLIANCES Introduction The Banker's Propensity to Cooperate The Use of Strategic Alliances in the European Banking Sector Discussion and Conclusion PART 3: STRATEGIC ALLIANCES - THE THEORY AND THE LITERATURE Introduction Strategy The Key Perspective Strategic Alliances PART 4: BROAD EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES Introduction Strategic Alliances - A Definition The Rationale for Conceiving Strategic Alliances The Rationale for Forming Strategic Alliances The Rationale for Organizing Strategic Alliances The Rationale for Co-Evolution of Strategic Alliances Current Status of Strategic Alliances Future Plans for Strategic Alliances Additional Observations Conclusion PART 5: THE SUBSTANCE OF ALLIANCES Introduction Background Conceiving Cooperation Forming Cooperation Organizing Cooperation Dissolving Cooperation Conclusion PART 6: DISCUSSION, INFRASTRUCTURE ALLIANCES AND CO-EVOLUTION Introduction Conclusion Further Research Appendix 1: Summary of Strategic Alliances Readings Appendix 2: Research Methodology References Bibliography

'Alliances and Co-Evolution' is referenced multiple times in one of the leading strategy text books, 'Exploring Corporate Strategy' 8th Edition, by Johnson, Scholes and Whittington. Dr ul-Haq's book has also been praised by John Burton, Lord Harris, Farok Contractor and John Child.'Much of the - now vast - literature on business alliances has focused upon globalized mass manufacturing industries or upon hi-tech sectors. This book is a refreshing change in that it looks at the 'Age of alliances'' through the lens of a traditional service sector: banking. Serious students and practitioners of banking/finance, and of strategic management, would be well advised to read it...' - Professor John Burton, Author, formerly Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK'In this extremely well-presented monograph, the author, Dr ul-Haq, generously shares with fellow-students as well as with advanced practitioners the rich fruits of his extensive reading, theoretical understanding and penetrating practical insights...The result is an exciting presentation of the unsuspected ways that Adam Smith's apparently simple precept of the division of labour leads on to varied and intricate patterns of collaboration between otherwise independent companies.' - Lord Harris of High Cross, Cross Bench Member of the House of Lords, Former Founding Chairman of the Institute of Economic Affairs, UK'Dr Rehan ul-Haq has published a unique book that combines considerable detail about banking operations and inter-bank alliances with an exhaustive coverage of theory on inter-firm cooperation... A deep, scholarly monograph which will be appreciated by students of inter-organizational cooperation, the book could also be highly rewarding to the erudite banker or strategist. - Farok J. Contractor, Professor of International Management, Rutgers Business School, USA'Dr ul-Haq's book provides a penetrating analysis of strategic alliances informed by his considerable knowledge of the banking sector. His wide review of the literature is of great help to students, while the insights he offers on how alliances evolve over time fill significant gaps in our knowledge.' - John Child, Professor of Commerce, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, UK