Hidden structure and value network: shedding light on position assessment Online publication date: Tue, 21-Apr-2020
by Elina Karttunen; Mika Immonen; Mikko Pynnönen; Jouni Koivuniemi
International Journal of Services and Operations Management (IJSOM), Vol. 36, No. 1, 2020
Abstract: This study focuses on hierarchical structures of value networks of service systems. But how can the central and influential network positions be found in the value network? The position of actors is extracted using the hidden structure method (HSM) and centrality metrics of social network analysis (SNA). Both analyses apply adjacency matrix data that reveal direct dependencies of actors in a value network. We measured indegree, outdegree, betweenness, and closeness centralities to each actor to compare SNA and HSM results. HSM can reveal the actors who conduct the most significant activities, as well as more peripheral actors who have a strong influence on core actors. Thus, HSM does not neglect the hierarchy between actors. Our methodological contribution suggests that in parallel with widely used SNA centrality measures, researchers should leverage HSM to define influential actors. Two pharmacy concepts in Finland provide the empirical research context.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Services and Operations Management (IJSOM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook