The Virtual Corporation

Lessons from the World's Most Advanced Companies.

In this worthwhile prognosis of the successful 21st-century business, Davidow, a venture capitalist, and Malone, a business writer, bring together findings on the effects of information technologies, organizational dynamics, and manufacturing systems on enterprises. The output resulting from these forces is the "virtual" product (most likely a service ) that "can be made available at any time, in any place, and in any variety." The authors' virtual corporation, epitomized by Lenscrafters, Taco Bell Express, and various semiconductor fabricators, harkens back to preindustrial artisans' crafting of pieces to customer specifications — but now with many times the responsiveness of those days. The authors see change as a nutrient in the organizations portrayed and say fostering trust and adaptability in employees will be vital in the new virtual corporation.

1. A New Kind of Business
2. An Emerging Idea
3. Powers of Information
4. The Upward Curve of Technology
5. The Future by Design
6. The Machinery of Change
7. Shared Dreams
8. Rethinking Management
9. A New Kind of Worker
10. Spreading the Word
11. Toward a Revitalized Economy
    

In my opinion a pretty realistic view on the new economy, even though I dislike the terms and its implications. Especially as used by people who don't understand the concept fully. Hint: Keep the Core Competency Inhouse!