Sme Based Virtual Enterprises: Basics, Concepts and Methods

Companies of the 21st century are faced with increasing demands from the market. These demands are among other things derived from technological innovations and the corresponding development towards a global marketplace. Specific advantages deriving from operating in a global market appear to be exploitable only by large organizations. Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), in particular, must find organizational solutions that allow them to cope with global business opportunities without suffering the effects of their limited resources. In this context, the notion of the virtual enterprise (VE) is receiving increasing attention as a business model addressing these new business challenges. This book, therefore introduces a methodology for the development of a VE system through first clarifying the concept of VE, then presenting an ICT architecture and structured framework which illustrates the key phases of system development and finally providing a set of guidelines which systematically describes key processes/activities which should be considered in relation to set up and operation of VEs.