How business networks evolve and interact over time

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No longer is it possible to rely mostly on subjective assessments when partnering around business critical tasks and processes. It is no longer possible either to ignore the longer term implications of engaging in, or disengaging from, a partnership, especially as these become multi-polar. Despite the difficulties involved, the proposed approach provides a compromise approach able to characterize quantitatively past networked business interactions at levels beyond purely commercial payments, and to provide forward looking guidance. This is of interest to several key decision makers in general management, in purchasing, in sales as well as in outsourcing and operations. It also offers a unifying framework for these functions to share and accumulate experiences and data, with the possible coordinating role given to the audit function. Case data and this analysis also allow to put the smart business network concept into perspective, showing that the “quick connect-quick disconnect” is rarely trusted, except to switch from one stable sub-network to another one.

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