The evolution of a conventional organization is a well
known phenomenon. Among
the many factors which contribute to organizational structure include relevant
strategies, technologies, and surrounding environments. Modern
organization theory
integrates management principles with actual cases to distinguish four major
organizational structures: functional, divisional, matrix, and
network. However, in light
of the competitive environments surrounding information technology, information
network breaks down the conventional bureaucratic organization, resulting in
obstacles to the organizational function. Information networks have become
widespread, reflecting a trend which links the different
capabilities of a business that is
responsible for one of the most competitive value chain
activities between the business
function and functional flow. By doing so, the entire
organizational goals can be
achieved by relational networks. Therefore, in this
dissertation, we reconstruct the
conventional organization by information networks. The
relational networks are also
utilized to「achieve the resource efficiency」, 「achieve the risk sharing」,
「achieve the control authority」, and 「achieve the market
competitiveness」. In
addition, the information networks are applied to「break the time and space
limitation」,「communicate and coordinate channels」, 「enhance the information
quality and quantity」. The virtual organization with virtual
traits is constructed as well.
Results in this dissertation demonstrate that the functional
resources of a business can
be virtually obtained as the virtual operating objects. In a
virtual organization, some
internal business function or functional flows are attributed
to the resources and
transaction cost. Such a situation could make use of the
externalization of relational
networks. Regardless of whether the external relations are long
term or short term,
business function and functional flow can utilize information
networks for connecting
and communicating. By doing so, the cross organizational gaps
and boundaries can be
eliminated. Therefore, this dissertation also constructs a
virtual type organization
model(ILLM). Also emphasized herein are the network mechanisms, including the
information networks to connect the core subject''''s business
capability and virtual
member''''s business capability, which eventually becomes the core
linkage''''s virtual
organization.
The novel architecture proposed herein is constructed from
the previous investigations
The electronics and information industries are selected as our
case studies. According
to results obtained from an in-depth interview of the first
stage, the network perspective
of a virtual type organizational model is obtained; those
elements are analyzed as well.
From virtual analyses of both the 2nd stage and network
mechanism, we derive the
following management principles: (1)Network mechanism oriented to the virtual
position consists of「discrete type」,「gathering type,「
unified type」, and「virtual
type」; (2)Organizational relational networks enhance the
information networks; and
(3)Relational networks of an organization are in advance and
information networks are
latter. Moreover, management strategy implications are obtained
from the research
propositions. For the former, the four types of virtual
organization evolution stages
allow us to transform the relational network''''s strength and
weaknesses to (1) business
control (loose crowd - tightly cooperative), and transform the
information network
strength and weaknesses to (2) information technology control ( generalize -
specialize), and finally obtain the virtual organization''''s「
dualism control strategy」,
including the「electronic basis structure」,「advantages of messages」,
「advantages of network」,「advantages of electronic integration
」. The latter is
「polarize business strategy」, which includes a tightly
cooperative relation network''''s
「Electronic Integrate Business」, and the general information network, which
connects the relation network''''s loose crowd「Electronic Commerce Marketing」.
Based on the results in the dissertation, we can conclude the following:
1. This dissertation combines the network perspective''''s virtual
organization with
fundamental theory. The virtual type organization is also
constructed sequentially,
which could be the basis for analysis in the future;
2. The information industry is higher than the manufacturing
industry in terms of
virtual levels. Correspondingly, the service industry is higher than the
manufacturing industry, and marketing management business function is higher
than others functions;
3. The four stages of virtual organization evolution are
discrete type, gathering type,
unified type, and virtual type; and
4. Our research propositions are that (1) Network mechanisms
are one directional in
terms of affecting the virtual traits, and (2)Information
network and relational
network got affects each other.