Distributed Problem Solving in Modular Systems: the Benefit of Temporary Coordination Neglect.
The rising division of labour in problem-solving work such as complex product development is fuelled by principles of modular design. But because complex systems are only near-decomposable, modular decompositions always contain interdependencies that cut across modules. Extant research suggests that...
| Publicado en: | Systems Research & Behavioral Science Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 124 - 137 |
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| Formato: | Artículo |
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Wiley-Blackwell
Jan/Feb2015
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=100522065&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ssf uiTerm: 100522065 longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson) uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 10927026 2SN jtl: Systems Research & Behavioral Science issn: 10927026 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jan/Feb2015 vid: 32 iid: 1 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell artinfo: ui: 100522065 10.1002/sres.2218 ppf: 124 ppct: 13 formats: tig: atl: Distributed Problem Solving in Modular Systems: the Benefit of Temporary Coordination Neglect. aug: au: Baumann, Oliver affil: Marketing & Management, University of Southern Denmark, Odense Denmark su: Behavior Work Psychology Problem solving research Problem solving methodology New product development Behavioral assessment Management sug: subj: Behavior Work Psychology Marketing Consulting Services Problem solving research Problem solving methodology New product development Behavioral assessment Management keyword: agent‐based simulation agent-based simulation complex systems coordination modularity problem solving agent‐based simulation agent-based simulation complex systems coordination modularity problem solving ab: The rising division of labour in problem-solving work such as complex product development is fuelled by principles of modular design. But because complex systems are only near-decomposable, modular decompositions always contain interdependencies that cut across modules. Extant research suggests that these interdependencies may not be neglected, and that distributed problem solving must be coordinated across the modules. But is 'more' coordination in modular systems strictly preferable to 'less'? Analysis of a simulation model points to a trade-off: although constant coordination efforts are most effective in the short term, temporary coordination neglect-repeated switches between module-level autonomy and coordinating intervention-can yield superior long-run performance. The paper characterizes the conditions under which such temporary coordination neglect can be beneficial and suggests that the level of coordination in distributed problem solving serves to balance two functions: ensuring that the modules fit together and inducing broader search for better module-level solutions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: N holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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