The Extended Enterprise

The concept of an extended enterprise represents a broadening of our view of the firm. Rather than contained within the bricks and mortar of a physical business, we think of our business of both the thing we represent on an organizations chart and which exists within the four walls of our business but to include our partners and connections that also make up what our business really is.

Wikipedia says it's a loosely coupled, self-organizing network of firms that combine their economic output to provide products and services to the market. I think it is more than that--it includes the connections that tie it to others.

Thus, Starbucks isn't just the coffee shop, it's the coffee shop plus all the coffee drinkers who buy the coffee, the employees involved in selling the coffee, the growers who supply the beans, and so on and so on.

That's a lot.

We need to think in broader terms because thinking that way gives us more ideas about how we can grow and thrive in whatever market we are obliged to compete in.

Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of my professional activities. For my books, go to amazon.com and plug in my name and you'll come up with both mysteries, The Case of the Kearney Music School Murders and No Stop on Red. Neither is ready yet for the Kindle.