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Paper info: Management of boundaries in the network era – what do managers really think about networks?

Title


Management of boundaries in the network era – what do managers really think about networks?

Authors


Katri Valkokari, Tiina Valjakka and Jukka Vesalainen

Place of Publication


The paper was published at the 32nd IMP-conference in Poznan, Poland in 2016.

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Abstract


The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge of managerial thinking and perceptions of relational business practices in the context of the manufacturing industry, where network studies have typically been limited to the traditional supply networks. This paper is focused on building and testing balanced and indicative metrics for network perceptions through interviews, thematic group discussion, and a pilot survey with 22 companies participating in an industryacademia research program that develops relational practices in business networks. Our results indicate that managers’ overall view of the business networks is distinctively positive. The networks are considered an especially important means to access new markets, knowledge and resources.