The collaborative engineering process within the framework of the virtual enterprise

Abstract

The virtual enterprise has become a prominent organizational structure under which small and medium-sized enterprises having strong, narrowly focused core competencies can band together to accomplish large projects. Great strides have been made in the evolution of the virtual enterprise as a collaborative engineering environment; however, in many cases, a key component of the virtual enterprise is missing that allows for the enterprise to stay focused on project goals, rather than concentrate on conflict resolution among its members. This component is the project manager. While possessing a wide range of management skills, the project manager must also have a general knowledge of the industry. By having a project manager take responsibility for the management of the project, the virtual enterprise can maintain its collaborative environment and its members can remain focused on the goals of the project