How to influence the birth of new business fields - Network perspective

This article explores the management challenges of emerging new business fields by using a network perspective. We are interested in the extent to which individual firms, by mobilizing cooperative networks of actors, can influence the emergence of radically new business fields. A framework describing the environment and the phases of emergence is proposed. Then the activities within each phase are discussed. Finally, we identify and examine the company-level capabilities involved in the management of these core activities. The study contributes to the management of new business fields. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.