Methodology for the Assessment of Complexity in Corporate Value Networks

Nowadays, companies are forming corporate value networks to meet the increasing demands of customers and to implement new business models for the generation of new revenue streams. Nevertheless, managing a larger number of partnerships can often be challenging for companies. In this context, methods are required to manage network complexity. The literature neglects the holistic assessment of complexity in corporate value networks. In this paper, a methodology to assess complexity in corporate value networks within the mechanical and plant engineering industry is proposed. Various complexity drivers contributing to overall network complexity have been identified from the scientific literature and quantified using a verbalized ordinal scale. Different complexity dimensions are operationalized and visualized by the means of complexity vectors, which consist of the assessed complexity drivers. The proposed methodology enables the user to derive holistic measures in order to deal with complexity in corporate value networks.