Today's firms are increasingly embedded in networks of alliances and other ties that influence their behavior and performance. In this, his first book on the subject, Ranjay Gulati examines the 'network resources' that arise from these ties, how successful firms manage these, and how they influence strategy, access to material resources, and perceptions of a firm's legitimacy held by key external parties such as investors and banks. The book synthesises Gulati's influential work on network dynamics from the last fifteen years, and presents the key findings from this extensive body of research. Gulati's insights are important for scholars, students, and practitioners interested in the behavior of firms in an increasingly networked economy. Ranjay Gulati is one of the leading theorists and researchers studying alliances and networks, and has written widely on the subject. His work has been published in leading academic journals such as Administrative Science Quarterly, and in the Harvard Business Review.

Social network analysis has transformed the study of organizations over the past 30 years.

Since Hoang and Antoncic [2003], network based research in entrepreneurship continues to develop and grow. To chart these developments, we discuss core relational (network content, governance), and structural constructs. We identify recent work that has introduced nodal and contextual constructs; the former capture attributes that inhere in the entrepreneur or venture to explain regularities in the patterns of network change. Contextual constructs reflect higher-level characteristics of the environment that influence lower level processes. The resulting theoretical models upon which empirical studies build reflect how the field as a whole has become more rich and complex. Broadly, studies continue to either examine how networks develop over time or their consequences for entrepreneurial outcomes. With more studies examining how network ties are initiated, evolve or are culled, our review of work published in the past decade finds that there is now a greater balance across these two streams. The process-oriented studies inform how entrepreneurial networks arise that may in turn lead to successful milestones achievement including financing and venture growth. We conclude by proposing future areas of research that include exploring the malleability of networking competencies, reviving dormant ties, examining the role of team level network constructs in venture performance, and greater incorporation of contextual factors. We also encourage research designs that employ multiple methods in order to better capture the wide range of constructs being incorporated into current theoretical models of networks.

PURPOSE: The analysis of the literature shows that the attempts to conceptualize the strategic aspects of the network bring a significant impact on the development of research on organizational networks. This article aims to analyze the new trends in strategic management, and in particular on the possibility of exploring the network approach in strategic management, through the existing literature and the presentation of the new contributions of the following articles published in the current issue. METHODOLOGY: The article is descriptive in character; thus it is based on a literature review and its constructive critics. A narrative literature review was used to present the main assumptions and features of the network approach in strategic management, along with an indication of emerging trends and new directions. Also the identification of theoretical foundations for understanding the processes of strategic change in inter-organizational networks and the proposition of the way to understand network strategy were presented. FINDINGS: The research included in this issue shows that from a network perspective, business strategy plays an important role in guiding the development of individual relationships and networks. Exploring the network approach in strategic management allows one to adopt the category of network strategy, which can be described through the coexistence of cooperation and competition. IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE: Considerations lead to the conclusion that the business strategy must be expressed in terms of potential changes in the network in which the company operates, taking into account its current and selected position in the network. Despite the fact that the current state of research on organizational networks in the theory of strategic management shows that this approach is already quite well established, on the basis of the analysis of research results concerning the conceptualization of strategic aspects of the network, the existing problems and limitations were identified. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The main problems related to the exploration of the network approach and the resulting consequences for the definition of the network strategy were indicated. Also, the combination of an organizational and economic approach with the logic of competitive advantage and relational annuity. The demonstration that the network perspective in strategic management allows for a more complete understanding of the strategic behavior of modern enterprises. Keywords: network, network strategy, network approach, strategic management Table of Contents Network approaches and strategic management: Exploration opportunities and new trends 7 Beata Barczak, Tomasz Kafel, Pierpaolo Magliocca Networks and network strategies: New theorization based upon a systematic literature review 37 Rossella Canestrino, Amir Forouharfar Direct and moderation effects on U.S. apparel manufacturers’ engagement in network ties 67 Nancy J. Miller, Carol Engel-Enright, David A. Brown Mapping of a science and technology policy network based on social network analysis 115 Esmaeel Kalantari, Gholamali Montazer, Sepehr Ghazinoory Synergetic effects of network interconnections in the conditions of virtual reality 149 Kateryna Kraus, Nataliia Kraus, Olena Shtepa Complexity, continuity, and strategic management of buyer–supplier relationships from a network perspective 189 Martin Pech, Drahoš Vaněček, Jaroslava Pražáková Interfirm network structure and firm resources: Towards a unifying concept 227 Jesse Karjalainen, Aku Valtakoski, Ilkka Kauranen

This volume features excellent new research devoted to advancing our understanding of how networks foster creativity, innovation and the development of cutting-edge technologies. This is crucial reading for any researchers exploring strategic management tools and techniques, and specifically the intricacies of "network theory" within businesses.

"This book holds key information in improving a CIO's role, which would then advance his/her chances of moving into a CEO role. It provides analysis within theoretical frameworks and consulting recommendations, starting with the demand side of CEO successions, specifically highlighting approaches in IT foundations, e-business development and IT sourcing decisions"--Provided by publisher.

Today, with a new leadership in place, the People’s Republic of China enters a challenging new phase as an emerging economic superpower. The Chinese economy has dramatically changed over the three decades since Deng Xiaoping launched his economic reforms in 1978. It has been transformed from a command economy dominated by state-owned enterprises to a market socialist economy with a wide range of ownership forms, both public and private. In turn, its managers and management have correspondingly undergone a major sea-change. This edited collection attempts to demystify Chinese management, highlighting recent research into these significant changes and their implications in a wide range of business enterprises both in China and overseas. It points to the strategic challenges and issues in terms of realizing the managerial version of the ‘Chinese Dream’. The topics covered include business schools in China, corporate social responsibility, financial services, impression management, international human resource management, international competitive strategy choices, internationalization of firms and the role of science parks. The book was originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.