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OR FORUM---Catching the “Network Science” Bug: Insight and Opportunity for the Operations Researcher

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  • David L. Alderson

    (Operations Research Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93943)

Abstract

Recent efforts to develop a universal view of complex networks have created both excitement and confusion about the way in which knowledge of network structure can be used to understand, control, or design system behavior. This paper offers perspective on the emerging field of “network science” in three ways. First, it briefly summarizes the origins, methodological approaches, and most celebrated contributions within this increasingly popular field. Second, it contrasts the predominant perspective in the network science literature (that abstracts away domain-specific function and instead focuses on graph-theoretic measures of system structure and dynamics) with that of engineers and practitioners of decision science (who emphasize the importance of network performance, constraints, and trade-offs). Third, it proposes optimization-based reverse engineering to address some important open questions within network science from an operations research perspective. We advocate for increased, yet cautious, participation in this field by operations researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • David L. Alderson, 2008. "OR FORUM---Catching the “Network Science” Bug: Insight and Opportunity for the Operations Researcher," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 56(5), pages 1047-1065, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:56:y:2008:i:5:p:1047-1065
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.1080.0606
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lu, Xin & Horn, Abigail L. & Su, Jiahao & Jiang, Jiang, 2019. "A Universal Measure for Network Traceability," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 191-204.
    2. Tran, Huy T. & Balchanos, Michael & Domerçant, Jean Charles & Mavris, Dimitri N., 2017. "A framework for the quantitative assessment of performance-based system resilience," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 73-84.
    3. David L. Alderson & Daniel Funk & Ralucca Gera, 2020. "Analysis of the global maritime transportation system as a layered network," Journal of Transportation Security, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 291-325, December.
    4. Vincent Mousseau & Özgür Özpeynirci & Selin Özpeynirci, 2018. "Inverse multiple criteria sorting problem," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 267(1), pages 379-412, August.
    5. Aybike Ulusan & Ozlem Ergun, 2018. "Restoration of services in disrupted infrastructure systems: A network science approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-28, February.

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