RESEARCHERS: Vijay Gurbaxani, Gloria Mark, Robert Plice


This project was funded by Boeing Corporation. The focus was on understanding how corporations would evolve as a result of increasing use of information and networking technologies. The researchers began by developing an information processing view of a firm and analyzing how the use of these technologies would transform the economics of organization. The results showed, for example, that the emerging business model would be a value network where multiple enterprises would form a collaborative organization to deliver a unique value proposition to its customers. A key challenge in managing these organizations would be the sharing of tacit knowledge (knowledge that cannot be shared easily through information systems). The results also defined a new competency – value network leader – which is the company that is customer-facing and coordinates the entire value chain, defines standards, and sets the rules of the game. The results were presented in management reports provided to the sponsors. Subsequently, a survey was designed to test the predictions developed in the conceptual approach aimed at understanding differences in how work is conducted in net-enabled organizations. The researchers are currently working on obtaining access to companies willing to provide access to their employees. This research is ongoing.