Systemic culture in global manufacturing virtual networks within the aeronatical industry

Abstract

• This paper analyzes the existence of a systemic culture in 
global manufacturing virtual networks (GMVN). In order to 
validate the proposed model, based on a conceptual model 
of systemic culture, the case methodology have been applied 
to an example within the aeronautical industry that has been 
one of the most successful relationships within GMVNs, the 
collaboration between GE and SNECMA for the CFM 56 engine 
manufacturing. These organizations are formed by very 
dynamic companies that manufacture all types of products or 
services, and establish horizontal and vertical relations between 
themselves,( in some cases even direct competitors), where 
it is not necessary mantaining large internal manufacturing 
resources, just managing and sharing these resources effi ciently 
in the network. This study about organizational culture at the 
network level includes aspects such as cultural similarity among 
its actors, social embeddedness, tacit knowledge transfer or the 
importance of trust at inter-fi rm collaborations. The presence, 
under a systemic perspective, of homogeneous cultural values 
and practices in which network actors can be identifi ed may 
strengthen the group membership or establish a social network 
that underlies the own GMVN and facilitates interactions among 
its members. The feasibility of this approach would facilitate the 
formation of new GMVNs, by establishing, ex ante, a cultural 
prescriptive model at the network level.