Modularity, Robustness, and Change Propagation: A Multifaceted Relation

Sebastiano Piccolo; Sune Lehmann Jørgensen; Anja Maier

doi:10.1017/dsd.2020.17

Modularity, Robustness, and Change Propagation: A Multifaceted Relation

Sebastiano Piccolo^*, Sune Lehmann Jørgensen, Anja Maier

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Increased system robustness is one of the promises of modularity. However, research on the topic has provided conflicting findings. By generating more than 2000 system architectures, this paper shows that the relation between modularity and robustness is multifaceted: Modularity decreases topological robustness, increases robustness to change propagation, and provides economic benefits. Results here confirm the importance of modularity, enable reconciliation of opposing findings from prior research, and guides researchers and practitioners in the selection of appropriate robustness measures.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the Design Society
Volume	1
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Publication date	2020
Pages	2335-2344
Article number	152
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/dsd.2020.17
Publication status	Published - 2020
Event	16th International Design Conference - Online, Zagreb, Croatia Duration: 26 Oct 2020 → 29 Oct 2020 Conference number: 16

Conference

Conference	16th International Design Conference
Number	16
Location	Online
Country/Territory	Croatia
City	Zagreb
Period	26/10/2020 → 29/10/2020

Series	The DESIGN Conference
ISSN	2633-7762

Keywords

Modularity
Robustness
Complex systems
Network approaches
Design structure matrix (DSM)

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10.1017/dsd.2020.17

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title = "Modularity, Robustness, and Change Propagation: A Multifaceted Relation",

abstract = "Increased system robustness is one of the promises of modularity. However, research on the topic has provided conflicting findings. By generating more than 2000 system architectures, this paper shows that the relation between modularity and robustness is multifaceted: Modularity decreases topological robustness, increases robustness to change propagation, and provides economic benefits. Results here confirm the importance of modularity, enable reconciliation of opposing findings from prior research, and guides researchers and practitioners in the selection of appropriate robustness measures.",

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Modularity, Robustness, and Change Propagation: A Multifaceted Relation. / Piccolo, Sebastiano; Jørgensen, Sune Lehmann ; Maier, Anja.
Proceedings of the Design Society. Vol. 1 Cambridge University Press, 2020. p. 2335-2344 152 (The DESIGN Conference).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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KW - Complex systems

KW - Network approaches

KW - Design structure matrix (DSM)

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M3 - Article in proceedings

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Modularity, Robustness, and Change Propagation: A Multifaceted Relation

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