Date of Award
2018
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Systems Engineering
Department
Industrial and Systems Engineering
First Advisor
Valerie Maier-Speredelozzi
Abstract
Cost and schedule overruns have become increasingly common in projects that set out to design and deliver complex engineered systems. Noting the well-established relationship between products and the organizations that design them, this study evaluates the effectiveness of different organizational networks at designing complex engineered systems using agent-based modeling. Specifically, it compares matrix and military staff organizational networks to random and multiscale networks, modeling design as an activity that requires organizations to create design artifacts and share information. It examines the nature of design, the role of product architecture, the nature of complexity and how it affects projects, and the characteristics that improve organizational robustness to congestion. Results indicate matrix organizations are particularly susceptible to congestion failure, while military staff and multiscale networks are more robust to congestion failure, with military staff networks having performance comparable to multiscale networks over a range of scenarios. Results further indicate simple changes to organizational behavior improve performance and robustness to congestion, with decentralization being especially beneficial. Finally, results confirm the utility of agent-based modeling for understanding the dynamics of complex systems.
Recommended Citation
Still, Bryan, "Design of Complex Engineered Systems and the Effectiveness of Organizational Networks" (2018). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 743.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/743
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