Title: Organising for innovation: parallel processing as a design principle for field-related interfirm networks

Authors: Glen Taylor

Addresses: College of Business Administration, University of Hawaii, 2404 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 96822

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe the role of parallel processing as a key design principle in organising the expansion and deployment of complex knowledge. Parallel processing is the preferred information architecture for the open inter-firm systems through which complex, field-related knowledge is most effectively managed. Open inter-firm systems are emergent, organising themselves on a project-by-project basis with new inter-firm teams created for each project. Participation in these systems is determined by the underlying knowledge base deployed to address a specific innovation. Within these systems, participants expand their knowledge base by learning to solve complex product/process design problems.

Keywords: innovation; organisation design; parallel processing; networks; information processing; emergent organisations; strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1998.002663

International Journal of Technology Management, 1998 Vol.16 No.1/2/3, pp.216-224

Published online: 04 Jul 2003 *

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