Cunha, João Vieira daPina e Cunha, MiguelKamoche, Ken2019-10-212019-10-211999-07-29Cunha, João Vieira da, Pina e Cunha, Miguel and Kamoche, Ken, Minimal Networks: A Contribution to the Understanding of Control in Trust-Based Organizations (July, 1999). FEUNL Working Paper Series No. 361http://hdl.handle.net/10362/84969This article draws on process labor theory and on theories of social control to understand how control is enforced in trust-based organization forms. It argues that like power-based forms need a shadow structure for creating requisite variety, trust-based forms need a shadow structure for requisite homogeneity. That control structure is composed by unobtrusive forms of direct supervision and ideational control which foster integration but also entail negative side effects: they hamper learning, flexibility and adaptability. This generates a self-defeating paradox because trust-based forms are prone to emerge in environments where these three characteristics are essential for survival. Therefore, we propose a different control structure - the minimal network - that hinges on diversity instead of similarity, building up the levels of learning, flexibility and adaptability necessary to survive and prosper in rapid-change of environments.engworking paper