Collaborative Networks Management from a Theory of Constraints Perspective

Collaborative networks are organizational structures that, instead of expressing market behavior, their formation and operation are based on principles of collaboration, where trust, reliability, and commitment between partners prevail. These principles allow collaborative networks to share risks and become more competitive. Collaboration-based strategies are increasingly important in the face of a growing demand for new and more sophisticated services and products, posing significant challenges for companies that must struggle to fulfill. In this sense, companies need to adapt their business strategies, so they can react and keep up with the pace of change. In this work, we propose a new perspective from the Theory of Constraints in Collaborative Networks Management. The adaptation of the TOC’s Five Focusing Steps and TOC Thinking Process, combined with the Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) approach, are proposed to improve Collaborative Networks Management. CCPM is brought into a collaboration context to deal with project network uncertainty. A preliminary motivation example is shown in this position paper, aiming at illustrating this prospective approach in Collaborative Networks Management.