Network and integrated production organizational models in Spanish industrial firms: distinctive features and performance

Abstract

This paper presents the characteristic features of Spanish firms that employ network and integrated production organizational models, as well as the repercussion that the adoption of one of these models has on organizational performance. To this end, we offer a conceptualization of both models and we identify seven aspects than can characterize both groups as confronted models. We present also current thinking tendencies which postulate, in great measure, a deterministic view that defends the absolute supremacy of network models in comparison to integrated ones. The empirical contrast is based on 159 Spanish industrial firms. Results show the cohabitation in the Hispanic industrial population, although with a predominance ofthe integrated models. The empirical research opens the door to a contingent analysis of the efficiency of the organizational forms.