Toward a General Modular Systems Theory and Its Application to Interfirm Product Modularity

Many systems migrate toward increasing or decreasing modularity, yet no explicit causal models exist to explain this process. A general theory of modular systems is built, drawing on systems research from many disciplines, and the theory is used to derive a model of interfirm product modularity, inc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Academy of Management review 2000-04, Vol.25 (2), p.312-334
Main Author: Schilling, Melissa A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Architecture
Biology
Causality
Enterprises
Flexibility
Knowledge
Management theory
Migration
Modularity
Organization theory
Product design
Proposals
Software
Studies
System theory
Systems theory
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Description
Summary:Many systems migrate toward increasing or decreasing modularity, yet no explicit causal models exist to explain this process. A general theory of modular systems is built, drawing on systems research from many disciplines, and the theory is used to derive a model of interfirm product modularity, including testable research propositions. The product model provides a valuable tool for predicting technological trajectories, and it demonstrates how the general theory can be applied to specific systems.
ISSN:0363-7425
1930-3807
DOI:10.2307/259016