<p>Society and technology develop together in interaction processes. Because of the development of information technology, the Industrial society has been left behind in favor of a society where information is the key production factor, i.e. the Information society. In the Information society, social functions and processes are organized in networks. These networks integrate geographically separate markets to parts of a complex global economic system. Existing conditions in society are the foundation upon which economic models and theories are built. The Network Approach, developed by the IMP-Group in the early eighties, is one of many models based on the conditions that existed in the Industrial society. This thesis attempts to investigate the ability of the Network Approach to describe business networks in the Information society. The findings presented in the thesis are results from a study of the market for Internet based financial services.</p>

Society and technology develop together in interaction processes. Because of the development of information technology, the Industrial society has been left behind in favor of a society where information is the key production factor, i.e. the Information society. In the Information society, social functions and processes are organized in networks. These networks integrate geographically separate markets to parts of a complex global economic system. Existing conditions in society are the foundation upon which economic models and theories are built. The Network Approach, developed by the IMP-Group in the early eighties, is one of many models based on the conditions that existed in the Industrial society. This thesis attempts to investigate the ability of the Network Approach to describe business networks in the Information society. The findings presented in the thesis are results from a study of the market for Internet based financial services.