Communication and optimal hierarchical networks

R. Guimerà, A. Arenas and A. Dı́az-Guilera

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2001, vol. 299, issue 1, 247-252

Abstract: We study a general and simple model for communication processes. In the model, agents in a network (in particular, an organization) interchange information packets following simple rules that take into account the limited capability of the agents to deal with packets and the cost associated with the existence of open communication channels. Due to the limitation in the capability, the network collapses under certain conditions. We focus on when the collapse occurs for hierarchical networks and also on the influence of the flatness or steepness of the structure. We find that the need for hierarchy is related to the existence of costly connections.

Keywords: Complexity; Communication flow; Organizations; Hierarchy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:299:y:2001:i:1:p:247-252

DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(01)00302-8

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