Management of Virtual Organizations faces new challenges that traditional approaches cannot address. This research proposes a performance measurement framework for service oriented virtual organizations including a structural and a procedural component. The structural framework aligns the activities of partners in a virtual organization at three different layers. The first layer is designed for partners’ strategic alignment through coordination of the value creation network. In the second layer, performance dimensions of partners’ collaboration are defined and mapped to the service choreography model. The third layer focuses on assessing effectiveness and efficiency of partners’ domain specific services, which is designed based on ITIL V3 service level management guidelines. In order to consolidate the structural framework, these three layers are integrated using a method for extracting service choreography model and SLA aggregation patterns from the value network. The procedural framework, on the other side, defines the processes required to design the KPI structure, implement the solution, communicate the results, and derive improvements. We propose an implementation architecture that enables inter-organizational performance management in collaborative environments. Then, the IBM products for business process and performance management (IBM BPM, Business Monitor, and Cognos BI) are employed to implement the proposed architecture. The conceptual framework along with the implementation architecture provides an integrated solution for decentralized performance measurement without the need for a central authority. We demonstrate that the proposed solution enhances flexibility, scalability, and interoperability, and supports transparency of partners’ performance information at an agreed-upon level as a basis for mutual trust.

Master´s Thesis is focused on employee evaluation systems in the environment of virtual organizations, where employees are physically working at different place and therefore it is not possible to directly evaluate their work in real time. The goal of the thesis is to improve realization of human resources activities, primarily focused on employee evaluation. Due to the topic, main method used to obtain data was qualitative research. Research is partially empirical, however the results are applicable in selected company. The result of the thesis is proposal of a new employee evaluation system for Sii and also all related documentation for its implementation.

This thesis explores issues of virtual teams. This research is running on premise of the University. The aim of this paper is to discover psychological aspects and specifics of University's virtual teams. Also, it should ascertain difference between common team cooperation and Managerial Game's team cooperation. The Managerial Game is some lesson which it has all preconditions for virtual team formation. In theoretical part, I am focused on theory about virtual organizations and virtual teams. In practical part, I am researching aims realization using by questionnaires and moderated interviews.

This thesis contemplates virtual teams, in particular the role of a leader in them. In the theoretical part of the thesis I explore and describe specific characteristics of virtual teams that distinguish them from the traditional teamwork paradigm, benefits and risks stemming from their use in the business world and policies and principles of leadership of different types of virtual teams that help achieve their maximum efficiency. In the practical portion of the thesis I demonstrate the negative effects of neglecting those principles by studying an example of a real, failed virtual team.

Virtual Organizations (VO)—a network of independent organizations collaborating to address specific business opportunities—have become popular in today’s technology driven business environment. Due to their autonomous and interdependent nature, management of collaboration among such organizations is a challenging task. Although many solutions have been proposed over the past two decades to support inter-organizational interactions, VOs still face several challenges due to their dynamic and temporal nature that cannot be addressed by traditional solutions such as ebXML, RosettaNet and EDI. In this research, we present a framework for process management in service oriented virtual organizations and a distributed architecture for a flexible infrastructure that supports collaborative business process execution, monitoring and management. The framework contains 6 layers with multiple components within each layer. In designing the components of the framework, standard reference architecture such as the Open-EDI reference model and the S3 service oriented architecture, as well as best practices such as ITIL V3 and PMBOK are used. The infrastructure supports the common topologies of inter-organizational collaboration (e.g. peer-to-peer, star, linear), and responds well to changes due to its loosely coupled components. The proposed infrastructure is based on federating multiple SOA infrastructures with the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) as its core. It is implemented using IBM WebSphere ™ products. We demonstrate that VOs built with our framework and implementation architecture facilitate flexibility, rapid process integration and dynamic evolution.

The thesis addresses the role of logistic concept in a virtual organization. Theory of virtual organization was complemented by a definition of virtuality and a model of virtual organization was created. Two measurable properties of virtual organizations are used for construction of a 2x2 matrix of centralization – integration giving thus clear view of virtual organizations taxonomy. Duality of hierarchic dimension of network structure and layers of the virtual dimension led to a comprehensive description of virtual enterprises with the aid of newly created 3x3 matrix of virtual layer – hierarchy level. Within this framework are interpreted processes in virtual organization during virtual enterprise’s lifecycle. Dynamic restructuring and stability issues are explained with the aid of the matrixes. A consistent approach of presented virtual organization’s theory gives interpretation of emerging logistic concept. The use and application potential of presented theory is exemplified in development of RFID implementation method for virtual organizations. Attention is paid to RFID costs and benefits analysis under condition of virtual organizing.

Since the early 2000s, Service Oriented Architectures (SOAs) have played a key role in the development of complex applications within a virtual organization (VO) context. Grids and workflows have emerged as vital technologies for addressing the (SOA) paradigm. Given the variety of Grid middleware, scientific workflow systems and Grid workflows available, bringing the two technologies together in a flexible, reusable and generalized way has been largely overlooked, particularly from a scientific end user perspective. The lack of domain focus in this area has led to a slow uptake of Grid technologies. This thesis aims to design a framework for Grid-enabling workflows, which identifies the essential technological components, how these components fit together in layered architecture and the interactions between them. To produce such a framework, this thesis first investigates the definition of a Grid-workflow architecture and mapping Grid functionality to workflow nodes, focusing on striking a balance between performance, usability and the Grid functionality supported. Next, it presents an examination of framework extensions for supporting various forms of Grid heterogeneity, essential for ii VO based collaboration. Given the complex nature of Grid technologies, the work presented here investigates abstracting Grid based workflows through high-level definitions and resolution using semantic technologies. Finally, this thesis presents a way to resolves abstract Grid workflows using semantic technologies and intelligent, autonomous agents. The frameworks presented in this thesis are tested and evaluated within the context of domain-based case studies defined in the SIMDAT, BRIDGE and ARGUGRID EU funded research projects.

Atualmente, a utilização de alianças estratégicas por empresas tem aumentado muito, devido a grande concorrência nos mercados nacionais e internacionais. Entre os tipos de alianças estratégicas comumente utilizadas estão os Consórcios, as Joint Ventures e as Organizações Virtuais (por meio da criação de Empresas Virtuais). Vários são os fatores que levam as empresas a utilizarem essas formas de aliança, entre elas a redução de custos, o aumento de participação de mercado, a aquisição de capacitação tecnológica. Para que tais uniões se concretizem com sucesso, metodologias de avaliação vêm sendo estudadas e adaptadas a essas diferentes formas de aliança com o intuito de minimizar os riscos de união envolvidos em tais processos. Entre esses estudos, pode-se destacar as ferramentas de análise econômica/financeira, que de certa maneira, já vêm sendo empregadas nos Consórcios e Joint Ventures. No que se refere às Organizações Virtuais e Empresas Virtuais existe uma lacuna no que diz respeito a esse assunto. Nesse sentido, esse trabalho tem como objetivo identificar e analisar as principais contribuições e limitações geradas pela inclusão de procedimentos de análise econômica/financeira nos processos de formação de Organizações Virtuais; manutenção de Organizações Virtuais; formação de Empresas Virtuais e manutenção de Empresas Virtuais. / Nowadays, there is an increase of the use of strategic alliances by enterprises, due to hard competition in the national and international markets. The kinds of strategic alliances more usual are Consortiums, Joint Ventures and Virtual Organizations with the creation of Virtual Enterprises, by the last entity. The enterprises use the strategic alliances by several factors: reducing costs, increase of market share, acquisition of technological capacity and others. For what occur a successful partnership, evaluation methodologies are being studied and adopted for these alliances with the purpose of minimize the risks of the partnership of such processes. Between these studies, the economical/financial analysis tools, in a manner, it are being used in Consortiums and Joint Ventures. In relationship of Virtual Organizations and Virtual Enterprises exist a gap in the literature in this aspect. By the way, this work intends to identify and to analyze the main contributions and limitations caused by the inclusion of procedures of economical/financial analysis in the processes of development of Virtual Organizations; maintenance of Virtual Organizations; development of Virtual Enterprises and maintenance of Virtual Enterprises.

Leading at a distance has emerged concurrently with complex global changes, resulting in the diverse use of technology, virtual teams, and collaboration as a way of solving problems and growing innovative and successful organizations. Little research has been done to explore the perceptions of individuals who lead virtual organizations. In the absence of such research, little is known about effective leadership processes in virtual environments. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to discover an explanatory theory, derived from data, which facilitates an understanding of effective virtual leadership systems and processes. This study used classic grounded theory methodology involving multiple extant data reviews (> 20) and a purposive sampling group of 77 virtual leaders, dispersed globally, who were interviewed using voice-over Internet protocol, phone contacts, and e-mail as data collection methods. The grand tour research question for this study examined issues leaders faced when leading/working virtually and the processes virtual leaders used to resolve the stated issues. Data were analyzed using open coding, sorting, memoing, constant comparative analysis, selective coding, and theoretical sampling. The key finding of this study was a generated theory of seducing engagement, addressing participants' main concern: the process of cultivating success in the virtual worker-learner. Engagement is viewed as a significant variable in successful virtual working, virtual leading, and organizational/company success. The results from this study might be used by global organizations to inform infrastructure and planning for virtual leading; to enhance the knowledge, training, and preparedness of virtual leaders; and to spur further research in a rapidly growing field.

證券市場商品種類、參與者及交易方式既多且複雜，在實際交易中，常形成系統尖峰負載，但硬體設備往往無法適時進行調配。本研究利用網格計算技術，提供一個在商業環境中可行及可用性的驗證。 驗證程序，首先建構網格計算環境，再者進行驗證項目測試，最後結論與建議。步驟先採IBM公司所提供中介軟體(Middleware)- IBM Grid ToolBox V3-進行測試，惟系統因軟、硬體版本問題無法安裝成功；再採用另一中介軟體-IBM WebSphere Extend(WebSphere XD)-多次調整軟、硬體版本後，建構完成測試環境。為測試不同廠牌之硬體是否可以在相同之網格環境中正常運作，分別採用IBM及HP各四部刀鋒伺服器為硬體架構。本研究測試驗證項目共計兩項，第一項測試網格技算解決硬體調配問題；第二項測試網格計算解決交易尖峰負載量問題。經測試驗證，第一項部份，分別以手動及自動之動態調整測試，WXD系統確實可依服務負載來動態調整可用Node來服務，亦即，網格技術可用來解決硬體調配問題。第二項部份，經模擬進行需長時間計算之批次工作(Batch Job)，觀察是否由多部主機同時分工運算完成整個計算工作，WXD系統確實可在系統部份Node失效後，其他Node仍可保持其服務之水準，與一般網路Load Balance設計，盲目的將服務負載導向存在之伺服器，在部份硬體失效後，可能會導致整體系統當掉之情形，驗證網格技術是較符合企業實務運作之要求。 / There are a lot of complicated type of merchandize, investors and trading methods on security market. It is often the prime cause of transaction peak load and hardware resource allocation problem. This research utilizes grid computing technology to offer a feasible and usable verification in business environment. The verification procedure, at first, build and construct the grid computing environment; moreover, the project is tested and conclusion and suggestion is made, finally. The step adopts IBM middleware, IBM Grid ToolBox V3, first. The system is unable to install successfully because of the edition question of the software and hardware. And then adopt another IBM middleware, IBM WebSphere Extend (WebSphere XD). After adjusting the software and hardware edition many times, we build and construct the testing environment. In order to test the different factories hardware that can normal operate in the same grid computing environment, this study adopts four server of IBM and HP respectively. There are two test items in this research. The first test wants to solve the allocation problem of hardware. The second test wants to solve the problem of transaction peak load. The first part, test with manual and automatic dynamic adjustment separately. We find WXD system can adjust idle Node dynamically in accordance with serve load. The second part, the test uses batch job which need to calculate for a long time and observe whether the whole calculation can finish by dividing the work operation for many host computers at the same time. We also prove that WXD system can really keep the level of its service while some Node systems lose efficiency. In a word, according to the traditional Load Balance design, system will lead its peak load to other server after some hardwares lose its efficiency, but it may cause the whole system to shot down. From this study, we prove that grid computing technology is comparatively conforms to the requirement of enterprise's practice operation.