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The Broken Mirror: not Merely Product Architecture Drives Firm Integration - also Knowledge does

Lauterbach, L. A. (2016) The Broken Mirror: not Merely Product Architecture Drives Firm Integration - also Knowledge does.

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Abstract:In the context of the discussion about the validity of the mirroring hypothesis (product architecture as a predictor of organisational design), this research mainly deals with the aspect of knowledge in terms of component and architectural knowledge as additional predictor of firm integration. The unique approach to apply the Design Structure Matrix on a complete product architecture is used as a tool to depict the component interdependencies of a tractor. Further, a large supplier survey provides extensive data of the variables knowledge in terms of component knowledge, and the variable buyer-supplier integration in terms of black- and grey-box development. The combined methods of qualitative and quantitative data show results that clearly reject the mirroring hypothesis as suggested by Sanchez and Mahoney. The original approach can be considered as too simplistic, since the relationship is contingent upon multiple factors of which supplier knowledge and buyer-supplier integration are significantly influencing aspects. More in depth and extensive research is required to capture the complexity of these relationships. Keywords: Design Structure Matrix, product architecture, supplier component and architectural knowledge, buyer-supplier integration, grey- and black-box development
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:85 business administration, organizational science
Programme:Business Administration MSc (60644)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/70809
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