Governing Complex Strategic Networks: Emergence Versus Enabling Effects

Author(s):  
Gabriella Levanti
Keyword(s):  
2001 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-18
Author(s):  
John Kidd ◽  
Frank-Jürgen Richter

The study of organisational networking has suggested that a joint effort applied to some task is often to the advantage of both parties. Recent studies have indicated that many strategic networks of Japanese firms have been both strategic and also permeable – to the extent that each firm takes on some of the characteristics of the other in order to fulfil a task. However the emergent characteristic of ‘downsizing’, which hit the Western firms a decade ago, has now moved to Japan where their reluctant human resource managers have begun to ‘hollow out’ their workforce – and much of the effect falls upon the middle management cadre. In turn we are seeing in Europe, across the Japanese production subsidiaries, that they have embraced the precepts of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in the form of applications programmes promoted by SAP, Oracle, Baan, PeopleSoft and others – so as to be better informed of the data in their pan-European enterprise. Our thesis is that the effects of the hollowing out needs to be very carefully managed in both the single enterprise and between multi-enterprises. And the implementation of ERP needs precise management in multi-national firms in general, and Japanese firms in particular, if they are to engage in strategic networking with any degree of permeability – since they will have little resultant organisational slack to generate new organisational learning.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1369-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena-Mădălina Vătămănescu ◽  
Juan-Gabriel Cegarra-Navarro ◽  
Andreia Gabriela Andrei ◽  
Violeta-Mihaela Dincă ◽  
Vlad-Andrei Alexandru

Purpose In the context of resource scarcity, the affiliation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to strategic networks has emerged as a fruitful path towards knowledge sharing as a reaction to fierce competition and with a view to enhance their innovative performance. In this framework, this paper aims to investigate the influence exerted by a specific relational design (i.e. types of strategic networks) and methodology (i.e. channels and content) of knowledge sharing on SMEs innovative performance. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire-based survey with 102 top managers of European SMEs in the industrial field was conducted from June to August 2019 and a partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used. The database was initially filtered to ensure the adequacy of the sample and data was analysed using the statistics software package SmartPLS 3.0. Findings The results concluded that the structural model explains 38.5% of the variance in SMEs innovative performance, indicating the positive effects exerted by offline and online and by competitive knowledge sharing on the dependent variable. Research implications The study has both theoretical and practical implications in that it sets out a reference point for the key performance indicators for strategic networks structure, formation and development and, implicitly, for the selection of the most efficient relational design and methodology. Originality/value The pivotal originality elements reside in the advancement of a more comprehensive conceptual and structural model combining a two-fold operationalization of SMEs strategic networks (founded on business abilities or on the personality of the partner) and in the investigation of knowledge transfer processes at the inter-organizational levels within a context-centric approach.


2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1024-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Gebert Persson ◽  
Heléne Lundberg ◽  
Edith Andresen
Keyword(s):  

2012 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 307-312
Author(s):  
Erdem Kirkbesoglu ◽  
Deniz Umut Erhan
Keyword(s):  

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anssi Jussila ◽  
Tuija Mainela ◽  
Satu Nätti

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the formation of strategic networks between second-tier actors in the context of a construction megaproject. The research question addressed is: How do second-tier strategic networks form in high uncertainty projects? Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative single-case study, which examines strategic network formation in the context of a nuclear power plant construction project. Focused interviews with parties involved or having an interest in the megaproject were used as the primary data collection method. Findings The conditions for network formation in a megaproject context are specified with a focus on the determinants of uncertainty. A total of six second-tier network types with different formation conditions and potential roles in the project are characterized. Research limitations/implications Analyzing the prerequisites of strategic network formation and examining the characteristics of various networks (that are either planned, taking shape or existing between the companies) in this specific context creates a basis for further study of network formation over network levels. Practical implications The formation of strategic networks is critical for many actors in the construction and related industries who are willing to participate in large projects. With the help of our findings, managers are able to define opportunities to orchestrate early phase network formation processes in uncertain circumstances, such as megaprojects. Originality/value The contribution of this paper lies in the close examination of strategic network formation from the second-tier actor perspective under circumstances of high uncertainty related to the early phases of megaprojects. Likewise, the illustration of different types of evolving nets in different phases of uncertain projects offers a contribution to the present discussion on strategic nets.


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