Inter-organizational The relatively enduring transactions, flows, and linkages that occur among and between
networks an organization and one or more organizations in its environment (Oliver, 1990)
Attribute variable A feature of an individual organization
Relational variable A feature of a relationship between organizations
Social capital Resources available in and through personal and business networks (information, ideas,
business opportunities, financial resources, power, influence, emotional support,
goodwill, trust, cooperation…)
Inter organizational Relationships between or among organizations that involve the concrete exchange of
relation (IOR) products, services, and resources
Network A certain structure of ties and nodes
Node Can be many things, but in light of this course nodes are organizations
Tie A certain type of exchange – a relationship between two nodes.
The interorganizational Happens when exchange between two organizations takes place. Boundaries of these
problem organizations are crossed. The area in between the organizations, where the exchange
actually happens, is not within the organizational boundaries. This causes difficulties
when exchanging (who gets ownership? Who resolves conflict?)
Dyad Link between two organizations
Ego-centric network A network as seen from one organization. This organization is placed in the middle (ego)
and exchanges with other organizations (alters)
Triad Link between 3 organizations
Serendipitous network The nodes are not aware of a goal or there is no goal
Goal directed network The nodes know about the goal of the network
Resource deficit Organizations lack all the necessary resources to attain their goals
Levine & White (1961) • Exchange theory of IORs (resource deficit exchange of resources IORs)
• Need / access / domain consensus
• Contribution: established IORs as unit of analysis
• Contribution: founded the field of IOR research
Thompson (1967) • Open systems perspective
• Organizations seek for certainty
• Internal: organizational structures to produce a closed and stable system
• External: contracting (agreements) / co-opting (absorbing new elements) /
networks an organization and one or more organizations in its environment (Oliver, 1990)
Attribute variable A feature of an individual organization
Relational variable A feature of a relationship between organizations
Social capital Resources available in and through personal and business networks (information, ideas,
business opportunities, financial resources, power, influence, emotional support,
goodwill, trust, cooperation…)
Inter organizational Relationships between or among organizations that involve the concrete exchange of
relation (IOR) products, services, and resources
Network A certain structure of ties and nodes
Node Can be many things, but in light of this course nodes are organizations
Tie A certain type of exchange – a relationship between two nodes.
The interorganizational Happens when exchange between two organizations takes place. Boundaries of these
problem organizations are crossed. The area in between the organizations, where the exchange
actually happens, is not within the organizational boundaries. This causes difficulties
when exchanging (who gets ownership? Who resolves conflict?)
Dyad Link between two organizations
Ego-centric network A network as seen from one organization. This organization is placed in the middle (ego)
and exchanges with other organizations (alters)
Triad Link between 3 organizations
Serendipitous network The nodes are not aware of a goal or there is no goal
Goal directed network The nodes know about the goal of the network
Resource deficit Organizations lack all the necessary resources to attain their goals
Levine & White (1961) • Exchange theory of IORs (resource deficit exchange of resources IORs)
• Need / access / domain consensus
• Contribution: established IORs as unit of analysis
• Contribution: founded the field of IOR research
Thompson (1967) • Open systems perspective
• Organizations seek for certainty
• Internal: organizational structures to produce a closed and stable system
• External: contracting (agreements) / co-opting (absorbing new elements) /
