 Hidden structure and value network: shedding light on position assessmentElina Karttunen, Mika Immonen, Mikko Pynnönen and Jouni Koivuniemi International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2020, vol. 36, issue 1, 1-19 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. Keywords: value network; network structure; network position; actor; role; hidden structure method; HSM; social network analysis; SNA; pharmaceutical network; centrality; adjacency matrix. (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijsoma:v:36:y:2020:i:1:p:1-19 Access Statistics for this article More articles in International Journal of Services and Operations Management from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd |
Is your work missing from RePEc? Here is how to contribute.
Questions or problems? Check the EconPapers FAQ or send mail to .
EconPapers is hosted by the
School of Business at Örebro University.