engleski

The Role of ICT in Establishing Partnerships, Networks and Virtual Organizations – The Case of Croatian Economy

Under the growing requirements of complex environment and their intention to improve and maintain their business performances, many organizations choose to change their organizational forms. Accomplishing their growth strategy certain companies, at the same time, establish strategic partnerships, networks and virtual organizations. Contemporary organizational forms and structures often allow cost reductions, greater profit margins, as well as accessibility of information, resources, markets and technology. Networking in business allows companies to have numerous of information channels toward the suppliers, customers, partners, and also the information flow and adaptation became much faster in these circumstances. Virtual organizations operate with support of information technologies that are today more available than ever, so the business model B2B can be realized even by smaller enterprises. ebXML, as a modular suite of specifications for conducting business using Internet, enables the enterprises to dispose of standard methods for business message exchange, data communication, defining and registering of business processes. The concept of service- oriented architecture (SOA) enables building of modular ICT systems for supporting frequently changing business environment. Other XML-based technologies can solve interoperability issues. Our research gives some of the answers to questions of how much the new organizational forms are inherent in Croatian economy and also to what level the expectations are met with regard to (eb)XML usage in the areas of business communication and Internet business transactions.

virtual organization; strategic partnership; ebXML; SOA

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