Identifying interorganisational networks: a factor-based approach

BALLEJOS, LUCIANA; MONTAGNA, JORGE

International Journal Networking and Virtual Organisations

Inderscience Publishers

Año: 2007

1470-9503

This paper deeply analyzes interorganizational networks (IONs), reaching the understanding of their creation and operation in different contexts. Rapid growth of IONs has not yet resulted in any systematic characterization for them. Indeed, the literature has primarily discussed specific types, but there is a need to determine a set of factors that best describes them and, at the same time, helps in their individualization and distinction from others. Thus, a framework to identify IONs is developed. It is formed by diverse factors divided in three perspectives: organizational, interorganizational and technological. This will allow users and developers to understand this complex context, specify their needs and establish a common basis for IONs application and understanding, including aspects of their design and analysis when implementing interorganizational information systems (IOSs), etc. As an example, decisions at different levels during Supply Chain Networks operation are analyzed.