Internet-based support for process-oriented instant virtual enterprises

The ever-increasing complexity of contemporary products and services demands business supply chains that ultimately involve a large number of autonomous organizations. Competitive markets require these chains to be highly agile, effective, and efficient, which organizations can achieve by forming dynamic virtual enterprises within supplier networks, called instant virtual enterprises (IVEs). The authors present the CrossWork system, which helps these organizations efficiently create and operate IVEs by providing automated, Internet-based support for the composition, setup, and execution of global business processes. This article uses the automotive domain to illustrate the system's optimal use.