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Information Flow Structure in Large-Scale Product Development Organizational Networks

Author

Listed:
  • Dan Braha

    (Ben-Gurion University)

  • Yaneer Bar-Yam

    (New England Complex Systems Institute & Harvard University)

Abstract

In recent years, understanding the structure and function of complex networks has become the foundation for explaining many different real- world complex social, information, biological and technological phenomena. Techniques from statistical physics have been successfully applied to the analysis of these networks, and have uncovered surprising statistical structural properties that have also been shown to have a major effect on their functionality, dynamics, robustness, and fragility. This paper examines, for the first time, the statistical properties of strategically important complex organizational information-based networks -- networks of people engaged in distributed product development -- and discusses the significance of these properties in providing insight into ways of improving the strategic and operational decision-making of the organization. We show that the patterns of information flows that are at the heart of large-scale product development networks have properties that are like those displayed by information, biological and technological networks. We believe that our new analysis methodology and empirical results are also relevant to other organizational information-based human or nonhuman networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Braha & Yaneer Bar-Yam, 2004. "Information Flow Structure in Large-Scale Product Development Organizational Networks," Industrial Organization 0407012, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpio:0407012
    Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 21
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    File URL: https://econwpa.ub.uni-muenchen.de/econ-wp/io/papers/0407/0407012.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jiewu Leng & Pingyu Jiang, 2019. "Dynamic scheduling in RFID-driven discrete manufacturing system by using multi-layer network metrics as heuristic information," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 979-994, March.
    2. Kirchner, Alexander & Labusch, Nils & Lopez Cordoba, Adriana & Sartor, Sebastian & Tumbas, Sanja & Villalon, Enrique & Wiethoff, Sebastian, 2011. "Network e-Volution," ERCIS Working Papers 11, University of Münster, European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS).
    3. Franck Marle & Hadi Jaber & Catherine Pointurier, 2019. "Organizing Project Actors for Collective Decision-Making about Interdependent Risks," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-18, March.
    4. Gian Paolo Clemente & Marco Fattore & Rosanna Grassi, 2018. "Structural comparisons of networks and model-based detection of small-worldness," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 13(1), pages 117-141, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Large-scale product development; socio-technical systems; information systems; social networks; Innovation; complex engineering systems; distributed problem solving;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General
    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs

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