Fractal Company Research Articles

A repeated-negotiation game approach to distributed (re)scheduling of multiple projects using decoupled learning

With peer-to-peer software technologies based on Blockchain and Smart Contracts, automated negotiation of client-server relationships for enterprise networking and project-oriented fractal organizations can now be readily implemented. To this aim, the distributed (emergent) schedule of client-server contracts must be a Nash equilibrium from which any agent finds no incentive to deviate. Also, to respond effectively to unplanned events and disturbances, the renegotiating process of all concerned client-server contracts must pursue a new Nash equilibrium solution in the face of incomplete information by each individual agent. In this work, distributed multi-project (re)scheduling is formulated as a repeated-negotiation game in a multi-agent setting where each agent resorts to decoupled learning rules for deciding the terms and conditions in each contract settlement. After a finite number of stages of the negotiation game, a new emergent schedule close to a Nash equilibrium is found. An agent-based simulation framework is proposed to implement the repeated negotiation game based on bilateral client-server contracts. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated using a case study of a project-oriented fractal company in the pharmaceutical industry. Simulation results obtained highlight that repeated negotiations and decoupled learning are key for approaching a Nash equilibrium and welfare solutions to a (re)scheduling problem.

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Enterprise modeling of a project-oriented fractal company for SMEs networking

To address competitive threats and concentrate in their core competences and strengths networking is the alternative of choice for survival and prosperity of most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) all over the world. For networking advantages to be fully grasped, an enterprise model describing the main organizational structure and relationships, information flows, management roles, actor behavior and constraints in the network is required. This work presents a conceptual model for SMEs networking based on the fractal company approach and concepts like projects, resources, goals, specialized actors, plans, and relationships thereof. The fractal company idea is a conceptual enterprise design that seeks to achieve a high degree of flexibility to react and adapt quickly to environmental changes using decentralized and autonomous organizational units known as fractals. In this work, each fractal management unit is modeled as a project. The fractal company is thus seen as a temporary set of client–server and delegation-to-do relationships among project- managers interacting so as to diversify product portfolio, gain economy of scale and share expensive costs. The proposed enterprise model can be used to specify the requirements of an integrated information and management system for virtual SMEs networking. The enterprise model is exemplified using a case study related to process development of a new pharmaceutical product in a SME network of the specialty chemical sector.

Blow the budget!

To sustain a higher level of competitiveness, manufacturing companies must become increasingly adaptable and responsive to changes in markets, competitors and customers. Many successful companies have found improved productivity by releasing staff from the constraints of formal budgeting. Judging by the literature over recent years, there are four influential pieces of work that, when taken together, can help to shape the successful manufacturing company. They include the lean organisation, the fractal company, profit beyond measure and beyond budgeting. Each requires a radical change in the way the business is managed.

Paradigm Shift in the Corporation: The Fractal Company

Abstract Many branches of industry have had to recognize that their lead in the world market has been caught up with, particularly through Asian competition. Often a deficit of up to 30% in costs and productivity already exists. The reasons are rigid, Tayloristic company structures. The companies are not in a position to react flexibly to constantly changing environmental conditions. This paper illustrates the methods of the fractal company necessary to solve the structure crisis through its dynamics and its vitality, as well as its ability to react independently to changing circumstances.

Process cost calculation in a fractal company

Organisation structures in the 21st century which have been built upon Tayloristic, centralist approaches are no longer capable of surviving in the new market dynamics. The organisational concept of the fractal company as a decentralised, approach offers the necessary vitality which can react to changes in a targeted manner. With this, the self-organising, decentralised company units have an increased need for coordination. A special problem is the coordination between central service areas and decentralised production areas with the aid of coordination mechanisms resembling those found in markets. Controlling as a decisive element in the coordination of a company requires an efficient instrument. Process cost calculation, in contrast with other costing systems, represents an efficient instrument in establishing customer-supplier relations for company units which look after service functions. Combined with conventional costing considerations, this instrument makes a holistic company navigation possible and thereby facilitates coordination within a fractal corporation. In order to actually achieve internal coordination which resembles market conditions, the decentralised company units require further qualitative information such as delivery service and quality data. The quality, motivation and customer consciousness of the employees, however, remain the essential characteristics of the company's vitality.

Flexible Optimisation Tools for Intelligent Manufacturing Systems

Flexible optimisation tools are gaining importance in times of short product-life-cycles and quickly changing constraints. Organizational changes, like the concepts of the fractal company additionely require user friendly interfaces. In this paper an evolutionbased optimisation tool (Genetic Algorithms) is presented. This system is applicable to a variety of tasks and easy configurable towards real-life-processes. The work prepares for a broad application of GAs in industrial settings by providing a user-oriented coding. After modelling and coding the problem any scheduling-related problem can be optimised.

Mathematical Modeling and Fractal Clustering Algorithm in Online Shopping

This paper puts forward the concept of fractal company is in the process of online shopping. According to the characteristics of the network shopping, the paper establishes the mathematical model of fractal clustering, and uses the fractal dimension to describe and depict Fractal Company. Online shopping is actually the management of the entire supply chain. Based on similar structure of fractal supply chain, the article carries out mathematical model of the fractal supply chain by using the dissipative structure theory and entropy theory. At last the paper conducts customer segmentation by using the fractal theory and clustering analysis technology, in order to dig out the most valuable customers and potential customers