Författare / Author
Bengt Ager, main author and editor
Co-authors: Mathias Bergqvist, Patrik Bengtsson,  Mattias Andersson, Anna-Karin Mähler, Lars Johansson and Ragnar Ahlström Söderling

Sammanfattning / Abstract
Within the "Objective 6 Programme" of the European Community about 40 cases of local development and networks were studied in the wood manufacturing sector in Sweden, with a focus on small enterprises. The results of the studies are presented in three reports. In this third report
various categories of strategic networks are described and analysed.

Firstly four development networks are briefly described and another five are touched upon. A network of development networks of quite permanent structure has emerged in the country.

A more comprehensive analysis is made of 14 business networks which are horisontally oriented. This means that the enterprises mainly operate in the same link of the production chain. The enterprises in these networks are co-operating in marketing, sales, production, purchases etc.
Two of the networks are 40 years old, with strong central organisations, surviving many storms and still comparatively solid. The other 12 have been formed in the nineties - the main part as local development projects with public funding - ranging from three to eight years of age. There is a great variety in size, ambitions and degree of formality of the networks. Progress is, in general, rather slow in these networks and some of them have stagnated. Possible explanations are discussed.

The studies also embrace six vertically oriented business networks, consisting of enterprises along the supply chain. These cases indicate that there is a great potential in vertical integration and efficiency.
 

Nyckelord / Keywords
Strategiska nätverk, affärsnätverk, träindustri, fallstudier
Strategic networks, business networks, wood manufacturing, case studies