Dr. Waldemar Kremser

Date/Time: Apil 4th 2018,4 p.m.

Location: D2.2.094

Abstract

This paper uses a simulation to build new theory about complexity and phase change in processes that are supported by digital technologies.  We know that digitized processes can drift (change incrementally over time).  We simulate this phenomenon by incrementally adding and removing edges from a network that represents the process.  The simulation demonstrates that incremental change can lead to a state of self-organized criticality.  As the process approaches this state, further incremental change can precipitate non-linear bursts in process complexity and significant changes in process structure.   Digital technology can influence the factors that influence the likelihood of these transformative phase changes.  We use the simulation to generate a set of theoretical propositions about the effects of digitization that will be testable in empirical research.

Bio:

Waldemar Kremser is Assistant Professor of Organization Design and Development at Radboud University (NL). In his research on organization design, organizational routines and organizational temporality he combines insights from practice theory and systems theory to analyse issues of innovation and organizational change. His dissertation on routine interdependence received the Ernst-Reuter-Prize 2017. The most important results have been published in Organization Science. At the moment, he is setting up a research project on the design challenges that are met in new organizational forms like Holacractic or agile organizations (e.g. Zappos, bol.com, ING).