Commentary: The Process of Relational Contracting: Developing Trust-Based Strategic Alliances Among Small Business Enterprises

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

The Embeddedness of Technological Systems

Technological systems are shaped both by forces arising from the technical environment of product markets and those arising from the institutional environment of compatibility standards. We explore how it might be possible for standards to simultaneously enable activities in the technical environment and not constrain them. Such a scenario is possible when the technical environment is not completely embedded in the standards that shape them. We characterize such technological systems as being "just" embedded.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Using the Brain as a Metaphor to Model Flexible Production Systems

Manufacturing flexibility is critical for survival in industries characterized by rapid change and diverse product markets. Although new manufacturing technologies make it possible to accomplish flexibility, their potential remains unrealized by firms whose organizational elements do not possess adaptive capabilities. We use the brain as a metaphor to generate insights on how firms might design flexible production systems. We chose the brain as a metaphor because it is a self-organizing system capable of responding rapidly to a broad range of external stimuli. The brain as a metaphor suggests that flexibility can be enhanced by employing practices that promote distributed processes occurring in parallel manner. Such practices lie in contrast to those employed by production systems built on scientific management principles that promote localized processes in a sequential manner. By exploring these contrasting modes of operation, we argue that the brain as a metaphor opens up new avenues for theory development related to the design of flexible production systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Technological and Organizational Designs for Realizing Economies of Substitution

Today's industrial landscape is characterized by rapid change and systemic technologies. Rapid change results in ever shorter product life cycles that demand continual innovation from firms. The systemic nature of technologies makes it difficult, if not impossible, for any one firm to manufacture all components of a technological system. We propose that these challenges be met by designing technological systems that have the potential to yield economies of substitution. Additionally, we propose that these economies be realized by adopting the network mode of governance. We examine the network mode at three levels-intrafirm, interfirm, and institutional-to illuminate the inherent tension between cooperation and competition at each level, and to explore the implications of this tension for industrial dynamics.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

VIRTUAL ORGANIZATIONS: WHAT YOU SEE MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU GET

Virtual organizations are new organizational forms comprising a set of network transactions that differ from those found in markets and hierarchies. This paper explores the nature of these network transactions through an in-depth study of a virtual firm. The virtual organization is characterized by constant organizing through virtual teams and alliances, a unique management culture and a set of norms, information and knowledge sharing enabled by information technology, and employee self-governance. The organization gains from a culture of fast-response and efficiency while employees are trusted to exercise discretion and take initiatives.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Commentary: The Process of Relational Contracting: Developing Trust-Based Strategic Alliances Among Small Business Enterprises

Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Networking for Success in Cyberspace

Several key technologies are converging to create the emerging cyberspace. We characterize this convergence process as one of cumulative synthesis and suggest that the network mode of organization is the most appropriate for facilitating convergence.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

The Embeddedness of Technological Systems

Technological systems are shaped both by forces arising from the technical environment of product markets and those arising from the institutional environment of compatibility standards. We explore how it might be possible for standards to simultaneously enable activities in the technical environment and not constrain them. Such a scenario is possible when the technical environment is not completely embedded in the standards that shape them. We characterize such technological systems as being "just" embedded.Information Systems Working Papers Serie