[xi:]ntegration Group is a network of independent professional consultants, who seek to appear as a virtual organization when procuring, working and billing for larger projects. The network is subdivided along three specializations:

1. [Si:]tec Solutions], focusing on computer-aided business management and IT consulting (corporate website )
2. [Ki:]mendo, orienting on project and program management and corporate structure organization (corporate website )
3. CI, which focuses on training and coaching (corporate website )

Within the group, managerial roles are periodically rotated in order to ensure flexibility amongst the partners and fulfillment of the networks core values:

1. (Multi-)Project Management: planning, steering, & controlling
2. Business Process Optimization: analyzing & enabling
3. Change Management: inspiring, empowering & optimizing
4. Innovation Management: collecting, selecting, analyzing & evaluating

[xi:]ntegration group customers include global corporations such as Bombardier and EADS, as well as public-private partnerships.

Through the uniform appearance of a virtual organization, the participants of [xi:]ntegration group hope to convey a collective branding and corporate identity to potential customers. Your project aims to solve the following questions:

1. Amongst the legal forms available in Europe, what are the liability consequences for network participants and general managers both?
2. What legal form will result in the highest acceptance of the virtual organization by potential customers?
3. What legal forms spell sufficient adaptability for the staff reallocation flexibility of network partners?
4. For larger projects, should the virtual organization be a temporary consortium or joint venture or of more permanent nature?

Project Output

Within the scope of the regular presentations (kickoff, midterm & final) and seminar paper, your project’s output should definitely include:

1. A decision guide for virtual organization legal form selection
2. An assessment matrix of available legal forms, particular with regards to partner liability and customer acceptance

Additional exemplary case scenarios will be discussed in conjunction with [xi:]ntegration group representatives.