Coordination of Complex Operations Over Organisational Boundaries

Heikkilä, Marikka Coordination of complex operations over organisational boundaries Jyväskylä; University of Jyväskylä, 2010, 2 p. Jyväskylä Studies in Computing IS N 1 ISBN 978-951-39-3920-5 (PDF), (nid.) Diss. This thesis focuses on the topic of coordination in organisational networks. The aim is to gain more understanding on how activities can be coordinated, how coordination differs within time and context, and what is the role of information and communication technology in coordination. Organisational coordination is examined as a dynamic phenomenon, focus of which shifted in the course of time from coordination of organisational activities within traditional boundaries of companies to coordination of joint activities that are spread over a network of companies. This shaped also the nature of the research, so that in line with the evolution of the phenomenon this thesis consists of two research methodological approaches, post positivism and pragmatism. The research builds on literature from multiple domains, such as organisational science as well as literature on organisational learning, organisational networks and information systems. This way it seeks to achieve a richer longitudinal view on the phenomenon. The empirical data for this thesis covers a period from 1990 to 2008. The theoretical contributions of this thesis are related to coordination frameworks for collaborative business networks. Whereas traditional frameworks are suitable for describing coordination within organisation boundaries, new smart business networks, that emphasise learning and knowledge sharing, call for new kinds of conceptualisations of coordination. For this purpose, this thesis suggests network’s business modelling process: A business model can be used as a dynamic boundary object for the negotiations between the potential partners over the key issues, including coordination mechanisms of the networked collaboration. Furthermore, this thesis provides some recommendations for future development of information systems towards better support of collaborative business networks.