Boundaries in business networks

We contribute to the industrial network literature by conceptualizing actor and net boundaries, the zones where differences are maintained. The boundaries, of a firm and between parts of the network, are malleable when a dynamic and longitudinal perspective is adopted. Boundaries are managed by an actor through control of critical resources and/or activities, but also in conjunction with other actors who undertake supporting activities for either collaborative or different purposes and interests. Thus, boundaries are managed in and through business relationships. How boundaries are created and maintained by managers within business relationships has implications for network change and form. In this paper we sketch directions for future research and provide conceptual methods for disentangling boundary forming techniques within coordination. The dual role of business relationships in forming network and in addition firm boundaries deserves further research.