A Meta-methodology Prototype for Collaborative Networked Organisations

Abstract

The benefits of using various forms of Collaborative Networked Organisations (CNOs, or Collaborative Networks - CNs) to create agile virtual organisations, shop floors and laboratories, or to bring together professionals worldwide in virtual communities are commonly acknowledged in the academic and industrial communities. However, the advancement of the CN domain to a discipline status essentially depends on the structuring of presently scattered and overlapping CN knowledge into a consistent framework, conveying a commonly agreed upon paradigm. The methodological aspect of this structuring effort can be greatly assisted by a meta-methodology integrating existing and emerging knowledge relating to the creation and operation of various concrete CN manifestations. This paper describes a milestone in the quest for a meta-methodology guiding the life cycle of CNs and their materialisations by explaining the final refinement and conclusions to a cyclic and reflective action research approach, which has resulted in the establishment of an implementable meta-methodology prototype for CN(O)s.