Skip to main content

Network Organizations: Theoretical Assumptions of Functioning and Management of Inter-Firm Cooperation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Management of Alliance Networks

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Business ((BRIEFSBUSINESS))

  • 971 Accesses

Abstract

The modern world is characterized by many qualitative changes with far-reaching consequences for social and economic reality. Under the new economic conditions, it is impossible to analyze the existence of particular organizations separately from their environments, and most of all, the relations that link them with other important players in the business market. It means that one of the main challenges of management in the twenty-first century is the creation of mutual inter-organizational dependencies, most often in the form of network structures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Transaction costs are defined as “the comparative costs of planning, adaptation and supervision over the fulfillment of various management structures” (Williamson 1998: 15). The main difficulty in the theory of transaction costs is a summary of all types of such costs. This is especially important for companies operating in a volatile and unpredictable environment, because they are particularly high in such circumstances (Romanowska 2009: 249).

  2. 2.

    Authors have introduced the concept of an orchestrator instead of conductor, but its tasks and functions are the same.

  3. 3.

    Lazzarini (2007) introduces the term “constellation” instead of alliance network.

References

  • Achrol RS (1997) Changes in the theory of inter-organizational relations in marketing: toward a network paradigm. J Acad Mark Sci 25(1):56–71. doi:10.1177/0092070397251006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JC, Hakansson H, Johanson J (1994) Dyadic business relationships within a business network context. J Mark 58(4):1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin JE (2000) The collaboration challenge. How nonprofits and businesses succeed through strategic alliances. Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Bae J, Gargiulo M (2004) Partner substitutability, alliance network structure and firm profitability in the telecommunications industry. Acad Manag J 47(6):843–859. doi:10.2307/20159626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bamford J, Ernst D (2002) Managing an alliance portfolio. McKinsey Q 3:28–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamford JD, Gomes-Casseres B, Robinson MS (2003) Mastering alliance strategy: a comprehensive guide to design, management and organization. Wiley, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Banalieva ER, Athanassiou N (2010) Regional and global alliance network structures of Triad multinational enterprises. Multinatl Bus Rev 18(1):1–24. doi:10.1108/1525383X201000001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barsh J (2008) Innovative management: a conversation with Gary Hamel and Lowell Bryan. McKinsey Q 1:24–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignoux S (2006) Short-term strategic alliances: a social exchange perspective. Manag Decis 44(5):615–627. doi:10.1108/00251740610668879

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capaldo A (2007) Network structure and innovation: the leveraging of a dual network as a distinctive relational capability. Strateg Manag J 28(3):585–608. doi:10.1002/smj.621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capaldo A, Petruzzelli AM (2011) In search of alliance-level relational capabilities: balancing innovation value creation and appropriability in R+D alliances. Scand J Manag 27:273–286. doi:10.1016/j.scaman.2010.12.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Child J, Faulkner D, Tallman S (2005) Cooperative strategy. Managing alliances, networks and joint ventures, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagnino GB, Padula G (2002) Coopetition strategy: a new kind of inter-firm dynamics for value creation. Second annual conference on innovative research in management, The European Academy of Management, Stockholm, 9–11 May 2002

    Google Scholar 

  • Das TK, Teng B-S (2002) Alliance constellations: a social exchange perspective. Acad Manag Rev 27(3):445–456. doi:10.5465/AMR.2002.7389937

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis C (2000) Networking for marketing advantage. Manag Decis 38(4):287–292. doi:10.1108/00251740010371757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devlin G, Bleackley M (1988) Strategic alliances—guidelines for success. Long Range Plan 21(5):18–23. doi:10.1016/0024-6301(88)90101-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doz YL, Hamel G (2006) Alianse strategiczne: sztuka zdobywania korzyści poprzez współpracę. Helion, Gliwice

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebers M (2002) Explaining inter-organizational network formation. In: Ebers M (ed) The formation of inter-organizational networks. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 3–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Elsner D (1997) Ludzkie oblicze organizacji. Czy sieć jest dobra na wszystko? Personel 9:24–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Fung VK, Fung WK, Wind Y (2008) Konkurowanie w płaskim świecie. Budowanie przedsiębiorstw przystosowanych do płaskiego świata. Wyd Akademii Leona Koźmińskiego w Warszawie, Warszawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Canal E, Lopez Duarte C, Rialp Criado J et al (2002) Time compression diseconomies in accelerated global alliances. Manag Decis 40(8):745–754. doi:10.1108/00251740210437716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goerzen A (2007) Alliance networks and firm performance: the impact of repeated partnerships. Strateg Manag J 28(5):487–509. doi:10.1002/smj.588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes-Casseres B (1994) Group versus group: how alliance networks compete. Harv Bus Rev 72(4):62–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomes-Casseres B (1996) The alliance revolution: the new shape of business rivalry. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomes-Casseres B (2003) Competitive advantage in alliance constellations. Strateg Organ 1(3):327–335. doi:10.1177/14761270030013003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomes-Casseres B (2004) Competing in alliance constellations: a primer for managers. In: Trick MA (ed) Global corporate evolution: looking inward or looking outward? Carnegie Bosch Institute, International Management Series, vol 4. Carnegie Mellon Press, Pittsburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulati R (2007) Managing network resources. Alliances, affiliations and other relational assets. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulati R, Nohria N, Zaheer A (2000) Strategic networks. Strateg Manag J 21(3):203–215. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200003)21::3<203:AID-SMJ102>3.0.CO;2-K

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann W (2005) How to manage a portfolio of alliances. Long Range Plan 38(2):121–143. doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2005.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann W (2007) Strategies for managing a portfolio of alliances. Strateg Manag J 28(3):827–856. doi:10.1002/smj.607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holm DB, Eriksson K, Johansson J (1997) Business networks and cooperation in international business relationships. In: Beamish PW, Killing JP (eds) Cooperative strategies European perspective. The New Lexington Press, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu J-S, Yang W-H, Chou Y–Y (2006) Classifying healthcare network relationships: an analysis with recommendations for managers. Int J Manag 23(3):665–678

    Google Scholar 

  • Inkpen AC, Tsang EWK (2005) Social capital, networks and knowledge transfer. Acad Manag Rev 30(1):146–165. doi:10.5465/AMR.2005.15281445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarillo JC (1988) On strategic networks. Strateg Manag J 9(1):31–41. doi:10.1002/smj.4250090104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jędralska K, Kosiń P (2007) Zarządzanie przez controlling w sieci wartości. Wyd. Akademii Ekonomicznej w Katowicach, Katowice

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay J (1996) Podstawy sukcesu firmy. PWE, Warszawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleymann B (1999) Future developments in the structure of airline alliance networks. http://www.touchbriefings.com/pdf/12/avia031_r_kleymann.pdf

  • Koka BR, Prescott JE (2002) Strategic alliances as a social capital: a multidimensional view. Strat Manag Rev 23(9):795–816. doi:10.1002/smj.252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazzarini SG (2007) The impact of membership in competing alliance constellations: evidence on the operational performance of global airlines. Strateg Manag J 28(2):345–367. doi:10.1002/smj.587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin CY-Y, Zhang J (2005) Changing structures of SME networks: lessons from the publishing industry in Taiwan. Long Range Plan 38(2):45–162. doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2005.02.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin HM, Huang CH, Lin CP et al (2012) How to manage strategic alliances in OEM-based industrial clusters: network embeddedness and formal governance mechanisms. Ind Mark Manage 41(3):449–459. doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2011.04.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu RJ, Brookfield J (2000) Stars, rings and tiers: organizational networks and their dynamics in Taiwan’s machine tool industry. Long Range Plan 33(3):322–348. doi:10.1016/S0024-6301(00)00039-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Łobos K (2005) Organizacje sieciowe. In: Krupski R (ed) Zarządzanie przedsiębiorstwem w turbulentnym otoczeniu. PWE, Warszawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzoni G, Baden-Fuller C (1995) Creating a strategic center to manage a web of partners. Calif Manag Rev 37(3):146–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles RE, Snow CC (1992) Causes of failure in network organizations. Calif Manag Rev 34(4):53–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nohria N, Garcia-Pont C (1991) Global strategic linkages and industry structure. Strateg Manag J 12(S1):105–124. doi:10.1002/smj.4250120909

    Google Scholar 

  • Obłój K a (2001a) Model biznesowy: dyrygent. Przegląd Organizacji 12:7–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Obłój K b (2001b) Modele biznesowe: operator i integrator. Przegląd Organizacji 11:6–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Piercy NF, Cravens DW (1995) The network paradigm and the marketing organization. Eur J Mark 29(3):7–34. doi:10.1108/03090569510079916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Płoszajski P (2000) Zdążyć przed rewolucją. Życie Gospodarcze 13:32–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Revesz RT, Cauley De La Sierra M (1987) Competitive alliances: forming ties abroad. Manag Rev 76:57–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Romanowska M (2009) Planowanie strategiczne w przedsiębiorstwie. PWE, Warszawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley TJ, Baum JAC, Shipilov AV et al (2004) Competing in groups. Manag Decis Econ 25(6–7):453–471. doi:10.1002/mde.1201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott-Kennel J, Enderwick P (2004) Inter-firm alliance and network relationships and the eclectic paradigm of international production: an exploratory analysis of quasi-internalisation at the subsidiary level. Int Bus Rev 13(4):425–445. doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2004.03.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snow C, Miles RE, Coleman HJ (1992) Managing the 21st century network organizations. Organ Dyn 20(3):5–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart TE (2004) Sieci aliansów z punktu widzenia centrów sieci. In: Zarządzanie strategiczne. Firma na rynku globalnym, Financial Times (vol 1), Liber, Warszawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorelli H (1986) Networks: between markets and hierarchies. Strateg Manag J 7(1):37–51. doi:10.1002/smj.4250070105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian Xie F, Johnston WJ (2004) Strategic alliances: incorporating the impact of e-business technological innovations. J Bus Ind Mark 19(3):208–222. doi:10.1108/08858620410531342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uzzi B (1997) Social structure and competition in inter-firm networks: the paradox of embeddedness. Adm Sci Q 42(1):35–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vyas NM, Schelburn WL, Rogers DC (1995) An analysis of strategic alliances: forms, functions and framework. J Bus Ind Mark 10(3):47–60. doi:10.1108/08858629510147466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson O (1998) Instytucje ekonomiczne kapitalizmu. PWN, Warszawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshino MY, Rangan US (1995) Strategic alliances: an entrepreneurial approach to globalization. Harvard Business School Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Włodzimierz Sroka .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sroka, W., Hittmar, Š. (2013). Network Organizations: Theoretical Assumptions of Functioning and Management of Inter-Firm Cooperation. In: Management of Alliance Networks. SpringerBriefs in Business. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34246-2_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics