Applying Queuing and Probability Theory to Predict Organizational Behaviors

Most existing organizational design processes focus on either the qualitative or domain-independent features of candidate designs. This paper demonstrates the significance of domain-specific features through an examination of an organizationally-driven information retrieval network. The behavior of a search process for appropriate agents and the consequences of hierarchical control in a continuous work flow are described. A model capable of predicting these and other characteristics is then created using techniques from queuing and probability theory. This model can then be used to guide the search for an appropriate design.