Strategy management

The term network may refer to any interconnected group or system. It comprises nodes and links.

An interconnected system of things or people; "he owned a network of shops"; "retirement meant dropping out of a whole network of people who had.

A communication system consisting of a group of broadcasting stations that all transmit the same programs; "the networks compete to broadcast important sports events"

An open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals A system of intersecting lines or channels; "a railroad network"; "a network of canals"

A business network is a set of two or more connected business relationships in which value is created (adapted from Wikström und Normann 1994; Emerson 1981)

Connected means that one relationship is contingent upon exchange in the other relationship
Primary purpose: to „create value“, i.e. every business network is a value creating system. In business networks,

value is co-created by leveraging

Networks are more complex than bilateral alliances, i.e. a bilateral relationship would typically not qualify as a network.

Networks comprise direct and indirect relationships

Networks relationships can either emerge from markets (semi-internalising transactions, e.g. acquisition of shares) or from hierarchies (semi-externalising activities, e.g. outsourcing)

independent

interdependent

internal units

integrated

-> it is a fact that aircompanies cooperate horizontal so along the value chain 
example one airline A has 15 free seats for a flight to zurich, another has at the same time
2 seats airline B, what makes sense? that airline B sells the seats to airline A

Vertical cooperation: Companies from different positions within the value chain cooperate