INFORMAL NETWORKING

Modern technical solutions are characterized by an increased interrela tedness between heterogeneous actors and knowledge fields. No single f irm can keep pace with the development of all relevant technologies. T herefore, firms must have access to external knowledge sources. Inform al networks or cooperative environments are an organizational device f or external learning. In the paper the master-equation approach is app lied to model the evolution of an informal network. Using this method we can totally dispense with the rigorous assumption of perfect ration ality that is usually employed when modelling cooperative behaviour. O ur results show that under a regime where technology is of major impor tance, know-how sharing and the emergence of informal networks is poss ible via self-organization (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.