The origins of modularity in early computer designs
By: Carliss Y. Baldwin and Kim B. Clark
Contributors: Clark, Kim B.
Edition: Rev.
Series: Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 97-038; Working paper (Harvard Business School. Division of Research) -- 97-038R
Publisher: Division of Research, Harvard Business School
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 21
Description: This working paper is a chapter of the forthcoming book, Design Rules: the Power of Modularity. In the twenty years from 1945 until 1965 computer designers in many different companies developed a long line of products that brought computer technology into significant application in business, science, and government. IBM's System/360 was a watershed event in this process. We have already seen how the project made system modularity a reality thereby solving important problems for users and designers. But System/360 also had a profound effect on the nature of future computer designs and developments. In this chapter the authors lay the ground work for their theory of design evolution.
Notes: Revision of: Design options and design evolution. 1996.

Draft chapter 6, January 13, 1999.

"This working paper is a chapter of the forthcoming book, Design rules: the power of modularity (MIT Press 1999)."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-31).