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Do modular products lead to modular organizations?
Author(s) -
Hoetker Glenn
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
strategic management journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 11.035
H-Index - 286
eISSN - 1097-0266
pISSN - 0143-2095
DOI - 10.1002/smj.528
Subject(s) - modularity (biology) , modular design , reconfigurability , hierarchy , computer science , product (mathematics) , empirical research , business , industrial organization , risk analysis (engineering) , economics , mathematics , telecommunications , statistics , genetics , geometry , market economy , biology , operating system
The tacit assumption that increased product modularity is associated with advantageous increases in organizational modularity underlies much of the literature on modularity. Previous empirical investigations of this assumption, few in number, have faced numerous confounding factors and generated conflicting results. I build a causal model for the relationship between product and organizational modularity, which I test using a distinctive empirical setting that controls for confounding factors present in previous studies. I find support for only part of the assumed relationship, showing that modularity is a more multifaceted concept than previously recognized. In particular, increased product modularity enhances reconfigurability of organizations more quickly than it allows firms to move activities out of hierarchy. The paper contributes to the emerging stream of research that focuses on the previously underappreciated costs of designing and maintaining a modular organization. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.