This paper with François Collet of ESADE and Daniela Lup of the LSE analyzes the emergence of the strategic management filed showing the benefits of network brokerage are stronger during the early phase of development and diminish over time. Through exposure to heterogeneous sources of knowledge, actors who broker between unconnected contacts are more likely to generate valuable …
Author archives: Dr Duncan Robertson
Topological Isomorphisms of Human Brain and Financial Market Networks
This paper, published with colleagues from Warwick University and Cambridge University: Petra Vertes, Ruth Nicol, Sandra Chapman, Nicholas Watkins, and Edward Bullmore was the result of inter-disciplinary work funded by the EPSRC – the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant number EP/H02395X/1). We investigated the similarities in the network structure financial markets and brain networks. Although metaphorical …
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The Exponential First
The first class honours degree is the ultimate prize for UK undergraduates. It is a symbol of being the best of the best. Undoubtedly, this is the case for some students. Yet the statistics for the number of first class honours degrees awarded by UK Higher Education Institutions (‘universities’ to most of us) shows, well, …
Cars and Colleges
Lovelace College has arrived in Oxford this morning. And lots of cars. Endeavour must be in town…
Agent-Based Modeling Toolkits: NetLogo, RePast, and Swarm
Agent-Based Modeling Toolkits: NetLogo, RePast, and Swarm (2005, Academy of Management Learning and Education 4(4), 525–527) sets out a comparison of three widely used agent-based modeling toolkits: RePast, NetLogo, and Swarm. It shows the differences between the toolkits, setting out the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each software toolkit.
Agent-Based Models to Manage the Complex
Agent-Based Models to Manage the Complex is a book chapter in Managing Organizational Complexity: Philosophy, Theory and Application: Volume 1 (ISCE Book Series – Managing the Complex) is an introduction to the use of agent-based models in management. It demonstrates the use of models in Repast, an agent-based modeling toolkit, and links this to complexity science concepts …
Into the Depths of the Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act is a thing of beauty. So much so that Tony Blair described the prime minister that introduced the Act as an ‘idiot, a ‘naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop’. Government departments have now taken it upon themselves to publish a list of requests (although not necessarily refused requests – more of that …
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A Body in St Catherine’s College, Oxford
A rather unusual sight when walking through St Catherine’s College this morning. I am told it is something to do with Endeavour. Apparently not a fellow Fellow. Although you can never be too sure… The filming for the fourth series of Endeavour started this week, and St Catherine’s College was used for the first day of …
Agent-Based Modeling and Behavioral Operational Research
Behavioral Operational Research: Theory, Methodology and Practice (Martin Kunc, Jonathan Malpass, Leroy Wright, Eds.) was published by Palgrave Macmillan in September 2016. My chapter on Agent-Based Modeling and Behavioral Operational Research shows the great potential of using agent-based simulation within BOR, showing how example models can be applied to the field. More details of the chapter can be found on the …
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The Dynamics of Strategy
The Dynamics of Strategy is a book published by Oxford University Press (Robertson and Caldart 2010) and combines natural science models with strategic management. Chapters on networks, agent-based modelling, and dynamic economic models are used to show how strategy can be treated analytically.