The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the emergence of the network society from the perspective of planned and spontaneous order.
Conceptual analysis based on extensive familiarization with literature.
The network society does not increase either planned or spontaneous ordering of economic activity, but their interplay.
The paper produces a number of research implications at global, industry, relationship and firms levels of analysis.
Businesses should craft practical strategies and policies on the assumption of constant change, build networking capabilities and be reactive to discontinuities in technologies and business models.
The paper is a unique multi‐level account of the impact of the network society on the type of economic ordering it creates.
