The Virtual Enterprise Concept

Among the multiple definitions for the Virtual Enterprise concept, the significance of two key elements: networking and cooperation, becomes clear. The lack of a unified definition is partially resulted by the large diversity in classes of networked organizations, which calls for the establishment of a taxonomy of virtual enterprises. An attempt to present some current definitions and a taxonomy is made. The first step in the analysis of virtual enterprises requires a careful study of various phases of its life cycle and characterization of the roles of various involved actors.