Editing Virtual organization (section)

== Technology required ==

Virtual organizations are supported by primary technologies such as the [[Internet]] and the [[World Wide Web]], [[Electronic data interchange|EDI]], [[telecommunications]], [[e-mails]], [[groupware]], and [[video conferencing]].<ref name="isaca">[http://www.isaca.org/Journal/Past-Issues/2001/Volume-6/Pages/Understanding-Virtual-Organizations.aspx] Isaca, 2001. Understanding Virtual Organizations. [online] Available at: <http://www.isaca.org/Journal/archives/2001/Volume-6/Pages/Understanding-Virtual-Organizations.aspx> [Accessed 10 October 2014]</ref>

=== Knowledge management technologies ===
[[Knowledge management]] technologies assisting virtual organizations comprise:<ref name=isaca />

* Collaborative technologies
* [[XML|Extensible markup language]] (XML)
* [[Intranets]] and [[extranets]]
* Personal devices
* [[Wireless technologies]]
* [[Virtual reality]] (VR)
* [[Enterprise portal|Portal]]s

=== EDI ===

[[Electronic data interchange|EDI]] can constitute a useful tool for virtual organizations as it transfers [[information]] (in the adequate form which a computer can utilize straightforwardly) from a computer to another and does not necessitate the intervention of any individual. [[Electronic data interchange|EDI]] could be a benefit to virtual organizations in numerous ways as the exchange of information between associates is facilitated and more efficient than with non-electronic transfer: better [[Field inventory management|inventory management]] and [[shipping]] performance, amount of time saved and faults escaped by the fact that data requisite to be entered only once, as well as a rise of the speed and accuracy of processes. However, using [[Electronic data interchange|EDI]] is not the optimal choice to make for assisting communication within a virtual organization, as the flexibility required for quick reactions is lacking in this system.<ref name="EGW">[http://ceit.aut.ac.ir/~sa_hashemi/My%20Teachings/MS-CEIT-Supply%20Chain%20Management/W-Selected%20Papers%20for%20class%20seminars-last/Information%20infrastructure%20for%20electronic%20virtual%20organization%20management.pdf] Lin, F., Shaw, M. and Strader, T.,  1998. Information infrastructure for electronic virtual organization management. [online] Accessible at: <http://ceit.aut.ac.ir/~sa_hashemi/My%20Teachings/MS-CEIT-Supply%20Chain%20Management/W-Selected%20Papers%20for%20class%20seminars-last/Information%20infrastructure%20for%20electronic%20virtual%20organization%20management.pdf> [Accessed 11 October 2014]</ref>

=== Groupware ===

Virtual organizations can be supported by [[groupware]] systems as it delivers a shared core of [[information]] to partners and a [[Computing platform|platform]] to collaborate regardless of the associates’ physical position. This way, [[groupware]] systems can assist associates track the rate of progress in work being done in a way that they can cooperate on the project without being concerned about geographical barriers. However, in a similar way as [[Electronic data interchange|EDI]], [[groupware]] is not the ideal decision to make for assisting communication within a virtual organization as it would not empower the organization to rapidly form an alliance to respond to a [[market opportunity]], even though it offers more flexibility than [[Electronic data interchange|EDI]].<ref name=EGW />

=== World Wide Web (WWW) ===

Many virtual firms have chosen the internet-based [[WWW]] in order to support organizational communication, as it constitutes a practical alternative to the [[Electronic data interchange|EDI]] and [[groupware]]’s inflexibility. Even though helping virtual organizations’ associates to communicate was not the initial purpose of the [[WWW]], it is still favourably relevant to this category of organizations. The web permits all co-workers (even the isolated ones) to share their thoughts, opinions and every part of any mutual mission as it was shaped to be a sort of [[data]] gathering of individuals’ [[knowledge]].<ref name=EGW />