Title: Decision making in inter-organisational relationships: implications from systems thinking

Authors: Hannu Karkkainen, Jukka Hallikas

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland. ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, FIN-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore and increase the understanding of the dynamics of decision making in inter-organisational networks. There is relatively little research that employs holistic and systemic approaches for enhancing the understanding of the topic. The systemic nature of network-related decisions is illustrated by empirical case examples. We study and illustrate what systems thinking pragmatically means in the context of networks and how it affects the inter-organisational networks and the network-related decision making in the context of business environment, risks, and learning. We also discuss the related academic and managerial implications to decision making in networks.

Keywords: decision making; systems thinking; cognitive maps; causal maps; networks; inter-organisational relationships; business environment; risk management; learning; dynamics; complexity; innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2006.008308

International Journal of Technology Management, 2006 Vol.33 No.2/3, pp.144 - 159

Published online: 02 Dec 2005 *

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