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• Working Paper | HBS Working Paper Series | 2013

  Hidden Structure: Using Network Methods to Map System Architecture

  Carliss Y. Baldwin, Alan MacCormack and John Rusnak

  In this paper, we describe an operational methodology for characterising the architecture of technical systems and demonstrate its application to a large sample of software releases. Our methodology is based upon network graphs, and allows us to identify define three fundamental architectural patterns, which we call core-periphery, multi-core, and hierarchical. We apply our methodology to a sample of 1,286 software releases from 17 applications, and find that 70 – 80% of these systems possess a "core-periphery" architecture under our classification scheme. This type of architecture is characterized by having a single dominant cyclic group (the Core) that is large relative to other cyclic groups and above a threshold with respect to system size. We find that the size of the Core varies widely, even for systems that perform the same function. These differences appear to be associated with different models of development—open, distributed organizations tend to develop systems with smaller Cores, while closed collocated organizations tend to develop systems with larger Cores. Our findings represent a first step in establishing some "stylized facts" about the fine-grained structure of large, real-world technical systems.

  Citation:

  Baldwin, Carliss Y., Alan MacCormack, and John Rusnak. "Hidden Structure: Using Network Methods to Map System Architecture." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 13–093, May 2013.

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• Module Note | 2013

  Business and Government: Campaign Contributions and Lobbying in the United States

  Karthik Ramanna, Sandra J. Sucher and Ian McKowan Cornell

  This module note on business-government relations introduces students to the state of campaign contributions and lobbying by corporations in the United States. The note develops two hypotheses as to the impact of corporate political engagement: (i) a vehicle to facilitate good government; and (ii) an instrument of special-interest capture. The note can be used to generate a discussion on the following issues: (1) In a democratic capitalist society, what is the appropriate role of business in government? (2) When it comes to political contributions, should corporations have the same rights and responsibilities as individuals? The note also describes the various practical choices businesses face on political engagement, including disclosure options and options to engage through trade or ideological associations. This description can be used to encourage business students to develop an aspiration for their companies' political engagement strategies.

  Keywords: political economy; Business and Government Relations; Business and Government Relations; Government and Politics; Public Administration Industry; United States;

  Citation:

  Ramanna, Karthik, Sandra J. Sucher, and Ian McKowan Cornell. "Business and Government: Campaign Contributions and Lobbying in the United States." Harvard Business School Module Note 113-037, March 2013.

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• Background Note | HBS Case Collection | 2013 (Revised from original 2012 version)

  A Brief History of the U.S. Tobacco Industry Controversy

  Sandra J. Sucher and Henry McGee

  This history of the U.S. tobacco controversy is a reading for a class on "The Insider," a film about whistleblowing in the U.S. tobacco industry, taught in the course, The Moral Leader.

  Keywords: leadership; ethics; United States;

  Citation:

  Sucher, Sandra J., and Henry McGee. "A Brief History of the U.S. Tobacco Industry Controversy." Harvard Business School Background Note 613-044, March 2013. (Revised from original September 2012 version.)

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