Understanding the Configuration of Studies On Virtual Organizations: A Synthesis of Themes for Future Researches

Abstract

The use of new technologies made it possible to improve business and

transactions, reinforce cooperation models, strategic alliances and

internal and external networks for enterprises. In addition, companies

gain competitiveness, innovation and explore new markets. In this

context, the virtual organization has become an important research topic.

However, given the complexity of the issue several areas have studied

virtual organizations under different aspects which may delay the

direction and contribution of research on this subject. In order to identify

and evaluate the production of recent years, it was possible to

understand the recent research configuration to serve as a source for

future research opportunities. Therefore, from a systematic literature

review, a classification was created to analyze the characteristics of the

events and the scientific journals in which these references were

published. Despite the systematic method used for the search of

references, this study cannot be considered exhaustive and was

conducted in order to explore and describe the topics related with

cooperation and innovation in virtual organizations. It was observed that,

regardless of the channel (event, scientific journal), most of the

references is regarded, first, to Computing or Systems and, secondly, to

the Management or Production, two areas of study with opportunities for

future researches. Theme researchers or new researchers interested in

this topic can thus understand the configuration of the studies in

approaches with feasibility to be explored in the future.