ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND WEB SERVICES: A REALITY CHECK

An argument is mounted that to be a virtual organization is to share a network of overlapping but discontinuous resemblances. The characteristics most often used to classify organizations as virtual are discussed. Accounts are shown to vary on issues such as stability and longevity, but agility is the characteristic most easily associated with virtual organizations because ICT is often used in an innovative way to quickly gain a competitive advantage. Recent developments in ICT are examined that support collaborative arrangements. Web services, Grid computing, and the Semantic Web are shown to be converging in ways that should make the benefits of virtual organizations readily available. A realistic assessment is made of the opportunities and threats posed by these Web-based technologies. The general conclusion is that organizations wishing to gain dominance by exploiting the advantages on offer should begin the adoption process early despite the emergent status of some important features.

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