Andrea Hanebuth
(Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Fuchsmuehlenweg 9, Freiberg, 09599, Germany)

 

Abstract: Facing a growing number of R&D collaboration in the Triple Helix (TH) context I analyzed the relevance of the virtual organization (VO) concept and the transferability to real R&D collaboration. My analysis on 291 published research articles connected to VO and 86 articles on virtual teams (VTs) provided insights to the actual research situation in this area. Furthermore I analyzed and structured 34 different definitions of VO. The structuration of attributes based on the four characteristics developed by DeSanctis and Monge (1999). 87 different attributes demanded for an expansion to six attributes. Consequently VOs are defined as (1) geographically distributed, (2) electronically linked, (3) functionally or culturally diverse, (4) laterally (versus hierarchically) connected, (5) represented as one, and (6) goal-oriented. Transferring these characteristics of a real R&D collaboration to the TH context proves the applicability of the VO attributes to R&D collaboration. This paper contributes at clarifying the term of VO, depicts the relevance for the R&D context and offers options for future research.

 

Key words: virtual organization; R&D collaboration; university-industry-government; research management;
virtual team

JEL codes: O32, M100, M150