The Knowledge-Based View (KBV) of the Virtual Web, the Virtual Corporation and the Net-Broker

Abstract

This chapter describes virtual organization from an inter-organization perspective. The virtual web is a network of equal and independent companies from which virtual corporations derive. Virtual corporations are temporary partnerships, which are only established in response to market opportunities or customer needs. The net-broker manages and administrates the virtual web and configures virtual corporations. Since knowledge has been identified as a key resource to gain competitive advantage, the knowledge-based perspective of the virtual web / corporation concept is used to argue why virtual corporations have theoretically the potential to build core know-how and therefore to gain competitive advantage. The chapter finalizes with a discussion of whether virtual corporations might be in a better position to achieve competitive advantage than other forms of inter-organizational partnerships.