Dr. Philipp Türtscher (Vienna University of Economics)

Program

• Date: 01.12.2009
  Time: 12:00 - 13:00
  Location: Room 202, Kaulbachstr. 45, 2nd floor

The Emergence of Architecture in Modular Systems: Coordination across Boundaries at ATLAS, CERN
Together with Raghu Garud (Pennsylvania State University) and Markus Nordberg (CERN)

The development of complex technological systems can be coordinated by pre-specifying system architecture. However, what are the origins of architecture? More specifically, what are the underlying processes that shape an emergent architecture? To address this question, we explore the development of ATLAS, a complex technological system that is being developed at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Our study suggests that the emergence of technological architecture is characterized by an ongoing process of negotiations across actors with different perspectives who have to justify and explain their design rationales to one another. Such a process results in what we call as ‘interlaced knowledge’ – partial overlapping of knowledge across actors in an overall knowledge network. Such interlaced knowledge generates a deeper systemic understanding of the requirements of the various components, making it possible for multiple groups to anticipate latent interdependencies and coordinate interdependent development tasks even as the design emerges.