ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND CHANGING ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS

We introduce this Special Issue by providing an overview of the interp lay between communication technology and various dimensions of new org anizational forms. We consider the major factors motivating dramatic c hange within and between organizations today, and describe key dimensi ons of intraorganizational and interorganizational forms that are link ed to electronic communication technologies: vertical control, horizon tal coordination, size of organization and constituent units, new type s of coupling, core product, communication cultures, ownership and con trol, interorganizational coupling, strategic alliances, and interstit ial linking. Our purpose is to sample the changes attendant upon advan ces in electronic communication and organizational forms, with the goa l of energizing future research. Our overview uncovers possibilities f or new avenues of study within the technology-organization relationshi p and reveals the important contributions made by the articles in this Special Issue.