Modularity and organizations
By: Carliss Y. Baldwin
Contributors: Harvard Business School
Series: Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 13-046; Working paper (Harvard Business School) -- 13-046
Publisher: Harvard Business School
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Boston ]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 17
Description: Modularity describes the degree to which a complex system can be broken apart into subunits (modules) that can be recombined in various ways. Modularity is important for organizations and the economy because the boundaries of organizational units and corporations are likely to match the boundaries of underlying technological modules. (This correspondence is called "mirroring.") In this essay, I explain the concept of modularity and describe how systems can be modularized. I then explain why mirroring is likely to be a commonly observed organizational pattern and review the empirical evidence. I conclude with open research questions.
Notes: "November 2012" -- Publisher's website.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 15-17).