Where are the smarts located in a smart business network?

Kenneth Preiss

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Weizenbaum (1977) wrote: "Tools shape man's imaginative reconstruction of reality". That has always been so. The creations of the visual and performing arts follow not only from the tools, but also from the concepts of technology. The defining technologies of the 20th century were mechanical; everyday conversation, news reports and talk shows use mechanical metaphors, such as to "push the gas pedal", to "overhaul", to "mesh with" and so on. The defining technology of this decade is communication technology. Management systems of the 20th century focused on making the company seen as a machine, efficient. Management systems of this and the next decade focus on the company as part of a communicating network. Economic and management structures follow not only from requirements of lowered costs, faster work and higher quality, but more deeply from the images and concepts which we all absorb unconsciously from the environment, and which are changing from the images of mechanical machines to the images of a globally-connected fluid network of interacting nodes. The network provides much more than a tool for enhanced business practice; it provides a conceptual framework that changes perceptions of organizations and of business strategy and operation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSmart Business Networks
PublisherSpringer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages91-103
Number of pages13
ISBN (Print)3540228403, 9783540228400
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Economics, Econometrics and Finance
  • General Business, Management and Accounting

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