SMU SOE Online Seminar (Mar 11, 2021, 4pm-5.30pm): Continuous versus Abrupt Reorganizations

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ABSTRACT Should organizations reorganize gradually or abruptly? Why does software development often involve episodic, disruptive overhauls? We model how to adapt the design of a complicated system that is gradually deteriorating. The key premise is that design interdependencies impede adaptation: small adjustments to the design cause a cascade of painful dislocations. We model such entanglements within a design as a directed network over the set of design elements: whenever a design element is removed, so must its network descendants. For dense networks, optimal adaptation involves cycles: periods of stagnation as inefficiencies accumulate, punctuated by episodes of abrupt reorganizations. Such episodes involve reductions in technical debt, but also in functionality and overall performance. Click here to view the CV.		This seminar will be held virtually via Zoom. A confirmation email with the Zoom details will be sent to the registered email by 10 March 2021.
		PRESENTER Hongyi Li University of New South Wales
		RESEARCH FIELD Organizational Economics
		DATE: 11 March 2021 (Thursday)
		TIME: 4.00pm - 5.30pm