Title: A framework for conceptualising virtual organising

Authors: Anna B. Holm, John Parm Ulhoi

Addresses: Centre for Organizational Renewal and Evolution (CORE), Department of Management, Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus University, Haslegaardsvej 10, DK-8210 Aarhus V, Denmark. ' Centre for Organizational Renewal and Evolution (CORE), Department of Management, Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus University, Haslegaardsvej 10, DK-8210 Aarhus V, Denmark.

Abstract: Based on an in-depth literature review, the article argues that the literature on virtual organisations and the virtualisation of business activities is characterised by ambiguity and inconsistency. The article identifies a conceptualisation of organisational virtualisation and puts forward a set of propositions on how to understand and study it. We suggest that, rather than perceiving organisational virtualisation as a means to a new organisational design or form, it should be seen as a strategic tool for the partial or complete transformation from location-based and time-dependent business activities to time- and space-independent organisations. In closing, the article presents a cohesive framework for typologising virtually organised activities, ways to understand them and suggestions for its potential use.

Keywords: virtual organisations; organisational virtualisation; virtually organised business activities; virtual teams; web based teams; online teams; ambiguity; inconsistency; organisational design; strategic tools; location-based activities; time-dependent activities; time-independent organisations; space-independent organisations; electronic knowledge sharing; collaboration; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2010.032952

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.293 - 310

Published online: 05 May 2010 *

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