From Dyadic Change to Changing Business Networks: An Analytical Framework

TLDR

The paper investigates business network dynamics, introduces the critical event concept to highlight radical change, and proposes an analytical framework integrating mechanisms, nature, and forces of change. The authors distinguish confined dyadic change from network change, characterize change as incremental or radical using a punctuated equilibrium model, introduce the critical event concept, and propose an analytical framework integrating mechanisms, nature, and forces. The study presents two circles of network change—incremental and radical—and discusses transfers between them, suggesting the conceptual framework has significant implications for future network dynamic research.

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamics of business networks. We distinguish between confined dyadic change and network change and show how change itself may be incremental or radical, using the punctuated equilibrium model of change. The concept of the critical event is introduced to highlight radical change. We propose an analytical framework where the ideas of mechanism, nature and forces of change are integrated. Two circles of network change (incremental and radical) are presented and transfers from one circle to the other are discussed. We believe this conceptual elaboration may have significant implications for future network dynamic research