Identifying interorganisational networks: a factor-based approach

LUCIANA C. BALLEJOS; JORGE M. MONTAGNA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NETWORKING AND VIRTUAL ORGANIZATIONS

Inderscience

Año: 2008

1470-9503

This paper deeply analyses Interorganisational Networks (IONs),reaching the understanding of their creation and operation in differentcontexts. The rapid growth of IONs has not yet resulted in any systematiccharacterisation for them. Indeed, the literature has primarily discussed specifictypes, but there is a need to determine a set of factors that best describesthem and, at the same time, helps in their individualisation and distinctionfrom others.Thus, a framework to identify the IONs is developed. It is formed bydiverse factors divided in three perspectives: organisational, interorganisationaland technological. This will allow users and developers to understand thiscomplex context, specify their needs and establish a common basis for IONs’application and understanding, including the aspects of their design andanalysis when implementing Interorganisational Information Systems (IOSs),etc. As an example, the decisions at different levels during Supply ChainNetworks’ (SCNs) operation are analysed.