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The vertical network organization as a specific governance structure: what are the challenges for incomplete contracts theories and what are the theoretical implications for the boundaries of the (hub-) firm?

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  • Bernard Baudry
  • Virgile Chassagnon

Abstract

Departing from the seminal question that Coase raised in his 1937 work, this article discusses and assesses incomplete contracts theories' analyses of the firm's boundaries--notably transaction cost theory and the modern theory of property rights--by investigating the case of the vertical network organization (VNO) (...)
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  • Bernard Baudry & Virgile Chassagnon, 2012. "The vertical network organization as a specific governance structure: what are the challenges for incomplete contracts theories and what are the theoretical implications for the boundaries of the (hub," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 16(2), pages 285-303, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:16:y:2012:i:2:p:285-303
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-010-9148-z
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chiara Burlina, 2018. "L?effetto dei contratti di rete sulla performance d?impresa: il caso italiano," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 138-152.
    3. M. J. Histen, 2022. "The extent of the firm," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 545-567, September.
    4. Chassagnon, Virgile, 2014. "Consummate cooperation in the network-firm: Theoretical insights and empirical findings," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 260-274.
    5. Chiara Burlina, 2018. "Inter-Firm Networks and Firm Performance: The Case of Italy," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0216, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    6. Yvonne Tobias-Miersch, 2017. "Beyond trust: towards a practice-based understanding of governing ‘network organizations’," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(2), pages 473-498, June.
    7. Virgile Chassagnon & Marilyne Audran, 2011. "The Impact Of Interpersonal Networks On The Innovativeness Of Inventors: From Theory To Empirical Evidence," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(05), pages 931-958.
    8. Timo Tremml & Sabine Löbbe & Andreas Kuckertz, 2022. "Board behavior’s impact on entrepreneurial orientation in public enterprises," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(4), pages 1183-1211, December.
    9. Kaouthar Lajili, 2015. "Embedding human capital into governance design: a conceptual framework," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 19(4), pages 741-762, November.

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