Virtual enterprises are increasingly being used as an organizational strategy for meeting customer needs. Potential benefits of virtual enterprises include increased profits, flexibility, increased customer service, better quality, a quicker time to market, and access to larger markets. However, the brokers that organize these ventures face challenges that arise in five key management activities: select partners, develop communication, develop culture, develop trust, and enhance behavior through motivation. A broker?s ability to overcome the problems in these activities determines the degree to which the benefits are achieved. Examples in the literature point to the possibility that interactive relationships exist between the five management activities. Considering all of these possible associations leads to a complex web of relationships that makes it difficult to determine the overall impact of specific improvements. This research investigates the five management activities and defines the primary relationships between them. The primary relationships are used to develop a conceptual model that brokers can apply as a methodology for systematically developing a virtual enterprise and thereby proactively addressing potential problems. In developing the conceptual model, this research utilizes approaches from other disciplines for addressing similar problems. The application of these approaches results in the use of systems engineering concepts to plan and design a virtual enterprise, the development of a partner selection methodology that incorporates ideas from the supplier performance measurement literature, the development of a pre-partner cultural assessment and post-partner cultural development process that are based on ideas found in the literature on mergers, and the use of project management as a means for coordinating the activities in a virtual enterprise. In addition to the preceding contributions, this research provides a comprehensive view of the characteristics of virtual enterprises. Included in these provisions are a detailed definition process and an extension of the literature to establish a typology of virtual enterprises.

Na busca por soluções organizacionais, modelos alternativos de redes de cooperação, como forma otimizada de gestão, vêm sendo pesquisados e propostos. O conceito de empresa virtual é uma destas propostas, tendo como característica a integração de competências de diferentes empresas que se unem para satisfazer oportunidades específicas de negócio. Um ambiente adequado para as empresas virtuais se constituírem rapidamente é através da criação de organizações virtuais, formadas por empresas pré-dispostas a cooperarem e que juntas, buscam novas oportunidades de mercado. O pré-requisito para seu adequado funcionamento depende de quatro infra-estruturas: física, legal, de informação e a sócio-cultural. A ausência de estudos e ações aprofundadas sobre a parte sócio-cultural pode inviabilizar o bom desempenho das organizações virtuais devido, principalmente a falta de cultura de cooperação baseada na confiança. No sentido de minimizar o problema, este trabalho define uma infra-estrutura sócio-cultural essencial que suporta a participação de empresas em organizações virtuais contribuindo para um maior conhecimento científico sobre aspectos sócio-culturais em ambientes dinâmicos e viabilizando maiores chances de sucesso das organizações virtuais. Esta infra-estrutura é baseada em estudo de caso numa organização virtual brasileira onde, numa experiência de três anos, benefícios, problemas e sugestões são apresentados servindo assim, como um referencial para futuras organizações virtuais. / The actual fast dynamic in the business impose of the enterprises more flexibility and so an inquiry for organizational solutions to make this enterprises competitivities. New alternative models of cooperation chain between enterprises as a way of optimized management have been research and proposal. The Virtual Enterprise concept is one of this proposes having as characteristic the integration of the abilities, or competences, of this existent enterprises join itself to satisfy specific opportunities of business. One manner to create a proper environment to quickly constitute a virtual enterprise is among the creation of a Virtual Organization, formed by enterprises predisposes and qualified to cooperate seeking together new opportunities to operate in the market. This organizations owing for a good growth four substructures: physical, legal, of information and social-cultural. The absence of profound studies and actions about the social-cultural substructure can make unable the good performance of the virtual organizations due, mainly, to the absence of the cooperation culture based in trust. In sense to minimize this problem this work define a essential social-cultural substructure to support the participation of enterprises in Virtual Organizations contributing to a scientific knowledge about social-cultural aspects in dynamics environments and allowing higher chances of success of the Virtual Organizations. This substructure is based in a study of case in the brazilian virtual organization, where in a experience among three years, benefit, problems and suggestions are presented serving so as a referential to the future virtual organizations.

Virtual Enterprise (VE) is an organizational business concept. Its key ingredients are collaboration among a set of member companies and integration of their competencies, which are needed for developing a new product or service. This concept is in response to the ever-increasing demand on the manufacturing enterprise to react quickly to changes in the market conditions and become agile enterprises. This thesis presents a quantitative study on the life cycle of Virtual Enterprises. Specifically, it covers the design and management phases. These two phases are modeled using system engineering as a foundation. This has led to the development of two new methods for designing and managing Virtual Enterprises. The design method uses Axiomatic Design Theory and a methodology for complex large systems. The management method is based on the Robust Design principles.

Virtual Enterprise (VE) is an organizational business concept. Its key ingredients are collaboration among a set of member companies and integration of their competencies, which are needed for developing a new product or service. This concept is in response to the ever-increasing demand on the manufacturing enterprise to react quickly to changes in the market conditions and become agile enterprises. This thesis presents a quantitative study on the life cycle of Virtual Enterprises. Specifically, it covers the design and management phases. These two phases are modeled using system engineering as a foundation. This has led to the development of two new methods for designing and managing Virtual Enterprises. The design method uses Axiomatic Design Theory and a methodology for complex large systems. The management method is based on the Robust Design principles.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-122).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-122) Also available in print.

Na busca por soluções organizacionais, modelos alternativos de redes de cooperação, como forma otimizada de gestão, vêm sendo pesquisados e propostos. O conceito de empresa virtual é uma destas propostas, tendo como característica a integração de competências de diferentes empresas que se unem para satisfazer oportunidades específicas de negócio. Um ambiente adequado para as empresas virtuais se constituírem rapidamente é através da criação de organizações virtuais, formadas por empresas pré-dispostas a cooperarem e que juntas, buscam novas oportunidades de mercado. O pré-requisito para seu adequado funcionamento depende de quatro infra-estruturas: física, legal, de informação e a sócio-cultural. A ausência de estudos e ações aprofundadas sobre a parte sócio-cultural pode inviabilizar o bom desempenho das organizações virtuais devido, principalmente a falta de cultura de cooperação baseada na confiança. No sentido de minimizar o problema, este trabalho define uma infra-estrutura sócio-cultural essencial que suporta a participação de empresas em organizações virtuais contribuindo para um maior conhecimento científico sobre aspectos sócio-culturais em ambientes dinâmicos e viabilizando maiores chances de sucesso das organizações virtuais. Esta infra-estrutura é baseada em estudo de caso numa organização virtual brasileira onde, numa experiência de três anos, benefícios, problemas e sugestões são apresentados servindo assim, como um referencial para futuras organizações virtuais. / The actual fast dynamic in the business impose of the enterprises more flexibility and so an inquiry for organizational solutions to make this enterprises competitivities. New alternative models of cooperation chain between enterprises as a way of optimized management have been research and proposal. The Virtual Enterprise concept is one of this proposes having as characteristic the integration of the abilities, or competences, of this existent enterprises join itself to satisfy specific opportunities of business. One manner to create a proper environment to quickly constitute a virtual enterprise is among the creation of a Virtual Organization, formed by enterprises predisposes and qualified to cooperate seeking together new opportunities to operate in the market. This organizations owing for a good growth four substructures: physical, legal, of information and social-cultural. The absence of profound studies and actions about the social-cultural substructure can make unable the good performance of the virtual organizations due, mainly, to the absence of the cooperation culture based in trust. In sense to minimize this problem this work define a essential social-cultural substructure to support the participation of enterprises in Virtual Organizations contributing to a scientific knowledge about social-cultural aspects in dynamics environments and allowing higher chances of success of the Virtual Organizations. This substructure is based in a study of case in the brazilian virtual organization, where in a experience among three years, benefit, problems and suggestions are presented serving so as a referential to the future virtual organizations.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present study aims to investigate how different levels of manifestation of culture in companies where electronic interactions predominate are formed. To that, the tools for transmitting information in the companies studied and the processes of interactions adopted are identified in order to recognize the core ideology, perceived and exposed values and cultural practices, including myths, rituals and symbols. Were analyzed by the method of integrated case study seven virtual enterprises, characterized by the absence of physical thirst, geographical remoteness and employee interactions done predominantly by digital means. The adopted sources of evidence were semi-structured interviews with managers and partners of virtual enterprises, document analysis and content analysis listed in the pages of organizations and of the respondents in social networks. Data were analyzed from the perspective of content analysis, identifying cultural manifastations in virtual enterprises analyzed. From the perspective of differentiation, it was possible to identify that daily confrontations result in shared experiences, although those experiences have different meanings for each member of the organization. Then, the digital interactions proved sufficient to enable the sharing of aims and objectives. The availability of information on the internet about companies, allied to the ease of access to managers, facilitate the spread of values, although these values are often confused with the own managers personal characteristics. As contributions, this study allows some insights into virtual enterprises, especially regarding the use of time, the establishment of partnerships and flexible work, enabling further reflections on the boundaries between public and private companies in using telecommuting. / O presente trabalho tem por objetivo investigar como se formam os diferentes níveis de manifestação da cultura em empresas onde as interações por meios eletrônicos predominam. Para tanto, são identificadas as ferramentas para transmissão de informações nas empresas em estudo e os processos de interações adotados, buscando identificar a ideologia central, valores expostos e percebidos e as práticas culturais, entre as quais os mitos, os rituais e os símbolos. Foram analisadas, segundo o método de estudo de caso integrado, sete empresas virtuais, caracterizadas pela ausência de sede física, afastamento geográfico dos colaboradores e interações predominantemente por meios digitais. As fontes de evidências adotadas foram entrevistas semi-estruturadas com gestores e colaboradores das empresas virtuais, análise documental e análise do conteúdo constantes nas páginas das organizações na internet e dos entrevistados nas redes sociais. Os dados coletados foram analisados sob a ótica da análise de conteúdo, identificando-se manifestações culturais nas empresas virtuais analisadas. Pela perspectiva da diferenciação, foi possível verificar que os enfrentamentos cotidianos resultam em experiências compartilhadas, embora essas experiências tenham significados distintos para cada membro da organização. Então, as interações por meios digitais se mostraram suficientes para permitir o compartilhamento de propósitos e objetivos. A disponibilidade de informações na internet sobre as empresas aliada à facilidade de acesso aos gestores facilitam a disseminação de valores, embora, muitas vezes, esses valores se confundam com as características pessoais dos próprios gestores. Como contribuições, o presente estudo permite alguns entendimentos sobre as empresas virtuais, principalmente quanto ao uso do tempo, ao estabelecimento de parcerias e à flexibilização do trabalho, possibilitando ainda reflexões sobre os limites entre público e privado nas empresas que utilizam o teletrabalho.

Diversos fatores levam ao crescimento do número de cooperações entre empresas. Dentre estes podem ser destacados: o rápido desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias de informação e a tendência das empresas concentrarem-se em suas competências essenciais, procurando tornarem-se ágeis para sobreviverem no competitivo mercado atual. Neste cenário, Empresas Virtuais (EVs) constituem uma apropriada alternativa e vantagem competitiva para Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs). EVs podem ser formadas dentro de Organizações Virtuais (OVs), que são redes de potenciais parceiros (empresas). Entretanto, através de uma utilização sistemática de modernas tecnologias de informação, as EVs se tornam mais viáveis economicamente, devido a uma significativa redução nos custos de transação. Diante desta alternativa, propõe-se um ambiente cooperativo suportado por computador que possibilite e otimize a participação de PMEs em OVs. Como ambiente entende-se aqui as soluções técnicas de suporte computacional (ou infra-estrutura de informação), que devem apoiar a participação de PMEs nos processos de trabalho cooperativo do ambiente distribuído de uma OV. As questões humanas e organizacionais que as PMEs devem atender para participarem em OVs são, também, abordadas por este trabalho, não constituindo, porém, o foco principal da pesquisa. Por fim, apresenta-se um cenário de exemplificação do ambiente proposto. / Many factors bring the increase in the number of co-operations among enterprises. Among them, it can be addressed: the quick development of new information technologies and the enterprises tendency to concentrate on their core competencies, aiming to became agile to survive in the competitive actual market. In this context, Virtual Enterprises (VE) are an appropriate alternative and competitive advantage to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). VEs can be formed inside Virtual Organisations (VOs), which are networks of potential partners (enterprises). However, VEs become more feasible by means of a systematic use of modern information technologies, due to a significant reduction on transaction costs. Considering this alternative a co-operative environment supported by computer is proposed, in order to enable and optimise the participation of SMEs in VOs. Here, environment is understood as technical solutions of computer support (or information infra-structure), which must sustain the participation of SMEs in the co-operative work processes of the distributed environment of a VO. The human and organisational aspects which the SMEs should meet to participate in VOs, are also approached by this project, nevertheless, they are not the main focus of the research. In the end, an exemplification scenario of the proposed environment is presented.

Internet-basierte Technologien wie z. B. Social Media Werkzeuge, aber auch ERP-Systeme und Wissensplattformen verändern weiterhin Form und Intensität der Zusammenarbeit in Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Bildung bis hin zum privaten (Zusammen-)Leben. Dabei führt die zunehmende Mobilität zu neuen Nutzungsoptionen auch für multimediale Systeme, sei es im Bereich des Gaming oder beim gemeinsamen Gestalten digitaler Produkte. Gerade für die Web 2.0 Technologien gilt: Ziel der Nutzung sind Kommunikation, Kooperation und Kollaboration. Die Nutzer suchen Unterstützung bei täglichen Routineprozessen ebenso wie in nicht alltäglichen Situationen - etwa bei der Erstellung von Inhalten - und schließen sich in Online-Fachgemeinschaften, sogenannten Communities, unterschiedlichster Ausrichtung zusammen. Im Jahr 2012 feiert die GeNeMe das 15. Jubiläum! Der Sammelband zur Tagung „Gemeinschaften in Neuen Medien“ widmet sich 2012 dem Rahmenthema „Communities in New Media: Virtual Enterprises, Research Communities & Social Media Networks“ und enthält Beiträge zu folgenden Themenfeldern: • Konzepte, Technologien und Methoden für Virtuelle Gemeinschaften (VG) & Virtuelle Organisationen (VO), • Mobile and Augmented Life, • Soziale Gemeinschaften (SG) in Neuen Medien, • Wirtschaftliche Aspekte von Gemeinschaften in Neuen Medien, • Lernen, Lehren und Forschen mit dem Web2.0. Alle in den Proceedings publizierten Beiträge wurden mit Hilfe eines anonymisierten Begutachtungsverfahrens auf Basis von mindestens 2 Gutachten aus einem breiten Angebot interessanter und qualitativ hochwertiger Beiträge zu dieser Tagung ausgewählt. Die GeNeMe‘12 richtet sich in gleichem Maße an Wissenschaftler wie auch Praktiker, die sich über den aktuellen Stand der Arbeiten auf dem Gebiet der GeNeMe informieren möchten. *** In der Online-Version ist das Adressverzeichnis (S. 337-355) nicht enthalten, vgl. Sie hierzu die Printausgabe.