Title: Virtual enterprise and e-business: a case study in a Brazilian aircraft company

Authors: Joao Amato Neto

Addresses: Department of Production Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Professor Almeida Prado, 531 – trav. 2, Sao Paulo-SP 05508-900, Brazil

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of Virtual Organisation (VO) and Virtual Enterprise (VE) conceptions in the most important Brazilian aircraft company – Embraer, and to analyse the main impacts of these conceptions on its competitiveness power. The methodological framework is based on a unique case study supported by data collection techniques involving some strategic departments of the Brazilian aircraft company, especially Research and Development (R&D), engineering, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) areas. Moreover, this work intends to question some existing myths about the extension of the VE application and try to identify some technical and organisational obstacles and solutions concerning the implementation and development of the VO and VE concepts in this case.

Keywords: virtual enterprise; e-business; electronic business; aircraft industry; Brazil; virtual organisations; networking; competitiveness; research and development; R&D; engineering; supply chain management; SCM customer relationship management; CRM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2006.010955

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2006 Vol.3 No.3, pp.340 - 355

Published online: 20 Sep 2006 *

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