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An agent‐based model of exaptive processes
Author(s) -
Villani Marco,
Bonacini Stefano,
Ferrari Davide,
Serra Roberto,
Lane David
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european management review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1740-4762
pISSN - 1740-4754
DOI - 10.1057/palgrave.emr.1500085
Subject(s) - exaptation , attribution , phenomenon , process (computing) , context (archaeology) , cognitive science , computer science , representation (politics) , identification (biology) , key (lock) , epistemology , sociology , psychology , philosophy , social psychology , political science , history , ecology , genetics , computer security , archaeology , politics , law , biology , operating system
A key problem in research on innovations is that of understanding their origins. In this paper, we propose that radical innovations are created by a process of ‘exaptation’, and we introduce a dynamical model that describes how it may happen. In particular, our model is focussed on the interplay between artefact innovation and attributions of functionality. We propose that the explicit representation of artefacts and categories eases the understanding of the exaptation phenomenon, seen in this context as a shift in terms of ‘leading attributions’ and allows the identification of the elements favouring the emergence of innovations.