Resource Interaction in Furniture Networks: Relating Design, Distribution and IT

This article highlights a central feature of business networks, resource interaction and heterogeneity, by means of three case studies from the furniture industry. Each case study focuses on one of three central issues in furniture-related business networks, respectively design, distribution and information technology (IT). Data collection and analysis are based on a resource categorization model termed the “4Rs model” addressing resource interaction, utilization and development in business networks. After the empirical accounts, theoretical implications are drawn about design, distribution, IT and their interplay from the perspective of resource interaction and heterogeneity.