R R&D (Research and Development) Collaborations ⊲ Innovator Networks R&D Networks Jan Kratzer Technical University Berlin, Berlin, Germany Glossary Design Structure Matrix (DSM) Symmetric matrix that indicates the links/interfaces between decomposed product components Hierarchical Decomposition Methods to decompose products in to components and subcomponents following product hierarchies Systematic Variation Method that refers to the search for and combination of solutions to design subproblems Satisficing Method that refers to the evaluation and selection of alternative solutions and the understanding that searches should not be focused on finding the optimal solution Discursiveness Method that refers to a step-by- step, yet iterative, approach to the product development process Lead User Person who are ahead of trends and develop and/or modify for their own benefit new products and processes Definition Perhaps the first attempts to characterize indus- trial organizations as networks were contained in the records of the Hawthorne Experiments. Shortly later, the analytic tools to scientifically engage in networks were presented: the sciogram introduced in 1934 and the sociomatrix intro- duced in 1946. The decades after, with increasing competitions, globalization, and customer indi- vidualization, the pressure on organizational re- search and development efforts has dramatically increased. This process brought research and de- velopment networks (R&D networks) into the picture of academic research. These early studies also exemplify the multilevel character of such R&D networks. The smallest elements in R&D are humans, so interaction networks among them mold the lowest level. Humans are grouped into teams in aggregation departments and functional divisions, so there are a number of levels within organizations. Further, organizations are embedded in environments with partners, competitors, and customers within an economic, political, and societal system. Hence, one dimension in defining R&D networks is the inherent existence of different levels (Gabbay and Leenders 1999). Another dimension is the nature of nodes and arcs. Nodes may be humans, but also teams and departments. However, nodes may also be product components (Sosa et al. 2004) in R&D networks. In this case, the linking element, the arcs, would be interfaces between product R. Alhajj, J. Rokne (eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Network Analysis and Mining, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-6170-8, © Springer ScienceCBusiness Media New York 2014