Beneficial Effects of Randomized Organizational Change on Performance

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the effects on performance of inducing organizational dynamics in collaborative search processes. Using an agent-based simulation, we analyze different temporal modes and levels of scope of change. The organizational properties under change are chosen randomly out of three dimensions of organizational design. Results suggest that inducing organizational dynamics has the potential to increase the effectiveness of search, but that the temporal change mode, the frequency and the scope of change in conjunction with the complexity of the search problem considerably affect the order of magnitude of this beneficial effect. The paper characterizes conditions under which different modalities of organizational change are beneficial.

Distributed Search Systems with Self-Adaptive Organizational Setups

“…This behavior can be observed after approximately 40 periods. These results confirm findings of research which indicate that altering the organizational setup in the course of distributed search processes may be favorable [8], [10], [11]: It has been argued that this is driven by the increased diversity of search which reduces the peril of sticking to local peaks. This is broadly confirmed by the ratio of alterations of configurations d and the frequency of how often the global maximum is found in 500 = t (cf .…”

“…The idea of self-adaptive distributed search systems builds on prior studies which provide evidence that distributed search processes could remarkably benefit with respect to solution quality obtained from inducing organiza tional dynamics while searching for better solutionsmay it be in the organizational setup of collaborating robots or "swarms" of unmanned aerial vehicles or in the organizational design of a firm where managers search for higher levels of firm performance [8], [9], [10], [11]. Apparently, organi za tional change per se tends to enhance the performance of a search system by inducing a shift towards more exploration, i.e., discovery of new solutions, and less exploitation, i.e., stepwise improve ment.…”

“…Whenever the global maximum is found (with aspiration level v > 0) the organizational setup is likely to be modified. An altered organizational setup also induces a modified evaluation of the current configuration d [11]. As a result, a move away from the global maximum in the performance landscape becomes likely.…”

Organizational dynamics in adaptive distributed search processes: effects on performance and the role of complexity

“…The interval of change is set to 25 periods for the 'periodical' and the 'fitness-driven' modes (for an analysis see Wall (2016b)). Obviously, the alternatives within each of the organizational dimensions reflect only some of a rather vast space of organizational design alternatives; however, the options are intended to capture rather distinct alternatives (i.e., residing rather at the end of scales as well as one intermediate option).…”