Process Modularity Over Time: Modeling Process Execution as an Evolving Activity Network

Process modularity describes the extent to which processes can be decomposed into modules executed in parallel. So far, research has approached process from a static perspective, not accounting for its temporal evolution. As result, understanding of been limited inferences drawn aggregated analyses that disregard execution. This article introduces and develops notion dynamic considering evolving activity network structure as by people. Drawing on science, quantifies over time using archival data an engineering design biomass power plant. shows how studying evolution enables more complete networks, facilitates comparison actual patterns against formal stages, provides data-driven decision-support planning interventions. Finally, managerial recommendations interface management, resource allocation, decomposition are proposed, help practitioners better understand manage processes.