In other words, 'Internet doesn't itself create success, but it allows steps to be taken towards success' (Michael Dell, managing director of Dell Computer Corp.).

Chapter 5 How the digital butterfly works
(the triproduction theory)

Organisation of a digital company

As my explanations have been extremely clear, you should by now have an equally clear picture of the way in which your business will become part of the value chain.

You have selected the species of electronic butterfly which suits your business and now wish to transform yourself and begin the metamorphosis. But you still don't know how to deal with an electronic butterfly. This is quite normal, because many people talk about it, but few have had the courage or the opportunity to deal with one.

Personally, I've tried to combine several books on management development and to add a few personal choices, to anticipate how a company at the beginning of the third millennium will function.

The trinomial example : Internal production - Agents - Sub-contracting

At present, the industrial business is essentially based on internal production factors : its own employees and its own machines. But two distinct characteristics are noticeable in those companies which resemble electronic butterflies : they are starting to integrate software agents and sub-contracting intelligently into their manufacturing process, and are thus becoming much more efficient.

They must reorganise themselves in the context of the internal production, agents and sub-contracting trio.

All the company's functions should be progressively called into question, to make the best possible use of these three resources. But how should the new balance between agents, sub-contracting and internal production be decided ?

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