The Small World of Standard Setting in Wireless Telecommunications
Dr Aija Leiponen, Imperial College, London
This paper discusses the relationship between affiliation networks and small world networks and examines the evolution of an affiliation network using data from standard-setting committees in wireless telecommunications. It suggests that the underlying affiliation (bipartite) structure of social networks is often ignored, although it has significant implications for network evolution. In particular, the so-called small-world structure of social networks can often result from the process of affiliating with various groups or organizations. The empirical analysis utilizing inter-organizational data on wireless telecom companies' standard-setting activities demonstrates that standard network indicators from the bipartite and the projected unipartite networks lead to different conclusions regarding power and information access of actors.
Venue: UNU-MERIT Conference Room
Date: 30 September 2010
Time: 16:00 - 17:00 CET
