Knowledge coordination, competence creation and integrated networks in globalised firms

It is argued in this article that the main problem for the modern,globalised firm is not one primarily of the unequal distributionof information, but rather of the difficulty of mobilising andintegrating fragmented forms of localised knowledge. In sucha context, the role of new means of telecommunication and cooperativeworking is investigated. It is shown that networking favoursa transparent mode of governance characterised by inter-linkedactors and their continuous stimulation. Thus, the conceptualisationof the globalised firm as a collection of competences offersa framework for analysing governance mechanisms, involving theissue of incentives.