A framework for computer-assisted creation of dynamic virtual organisations

Abstract

Being able to rapidly react to a collaboration opportunity (CO) in the fast changing market conditions is a key requirement for dynamic virtual organisations (VOs). One way to make the process of VO creation agile is assuming a context of a virtual organisation breeding environment (VBE), which operates like an alliance of organisations, guaranteeing the preparedness of its members to engage in dynamic virtual organisations to rapidly respond to a collaboration opportunity. The process for VO creation discussed here consists of a computer assisted framework to aid organisations namely in finding suitable collaboration opportunities and characterise them; making a plan for the VO that fulfils the CO requirements; and finding the right partners to accomplish the necessary actions. All these tasks are accompanied by a negotiation process either in terms of selecting the best partners or in reaching agreements on the details of the VO.

Keywords:

• virtual organisation
• virtual organisation breeding environment
• collaboration
• virtual organisation creation
• VO characterisation
• partners search
• negotiation

Acknowledgment

This work was supported in part by the ECOLEAD integrated project funded by the European Commission.