Modular process and service design in situ.

摘要

Existing modular process and service design guidelines are absent a conceptualization of the impact of environmental context on modular design performance. These guidelines focus internally on interactions between tasks in a process when prescribing the appropriate degree of modularity. The research presented in this study (1) adapts the pervasive simulation methodology in the domain of modular design evaluation to include characteristics of environmental context, (2) demonstrates a weakness in the current set of modular design principles, (3) addresses the weakness with an augmented set of modular design guidelines and strategies, and (4) validates the emergent guidelines in a value chain context.;A complex adaptive system simulation instrument is developed in order to test 13 hypotheses related to the impact of volatility and engagement complexity on the relative performance of modular designs. Performance levels of candidate designs are compared in order to discover both statistical significance and magnitude of differences. Key findings from these experiments include: (1) volatility and engagement complexity push optimal modularization levels in opposing directions, (2) there is an "80-20" rule with respect to adapting modular designs, first steps towards approaching parity with the environment have the greatest impact, and (3) the results of these experiments remain valid in a value network context, where sub-processes are allowed heterogeneous environmental contexts.