Abstract
An important way in which meta-organizations differ from one another derives from what meta-organizations do - the nature and pattern of their activity. Meta-organizations also vary in terms of who is responsible for developing and sustaining activities and for whom those activities are intended to provide benefit. In this paper, we conceptualise these dimensions of difference and highlight what consequences might be expected both for the meta-organization and for its member. The frameworks also provide a way of thinking about the complexity of the meta-organization and the strength of the meta-organization vis-à-vis its members. The paper highlights several areas for future research on meta-organization that would extend and enrich meta-organization theory.