KDI: Co-evolution of Knowledge Networks and 21st Century Organizational Forms: Computational Modeling and Empirical Testing

本研究将识别导致动态链接知识网络的形成、维持和解散的因素。两个核心研究问题将被解决：不同的知识网络如何随着时间的推移在多个层面上共同演变？每个层次的知识网络的中心性、密度、扩散和其他属性如何影响个人、群体和组织的任务绩效？私人投资机构计划采用一种广泛、通用的方法来理解知识网络的共同进化。知识网络可能在不同层次上共享重要的共同结构属性，或者可能以类似的方式发展。如果这被证明是正确的，一个层面的理论可以扩展到适用于多个层面的网络；如果网络性质不同，现有的理论将被修改，新的理论将被开发出来。这项研究产生的理论、经过测试的计算模型和开发的统计技术，将在本项目的实质性研究成果之外产生重要的科学影响；它们将适用于其他情况下的人际网络以及社会中的各种知识和网络问题，还将大大加强未来对多种形式网络的统计分析。

This research will identify the factors that lead to the formation, maintenance and dissolution of dynamically linked knowledge networks. Two core research questions will be addressed: How do diverse knowledge networks co-evolve over time and at multiple levels? How do the centrality, density, diffusion and other properties of knowledge networks at each level affect task performance by individuals, groups and organizations? The PIs plan to adopt a broad, generic approach to understanding the co-evolution of knowledge networks. Knowledge networks may share important common structural properties across levels, or may develop in similar ways. Where that proves to be true, theories at one level can be expanded to apply to networks at several levels; where network properties diverge, existing theories will be modified and new ones developed. The theory generated by this research, the computational models tested and the statistical techniques developed will have important scientific implications beyond the substantive research findings of this project; they will be applicable to human networks in other contexts as well as to a variety of knowledge and network issues in society, and will also significantly enhance future statistical analysis of many forms of networks.