The System Dynamics Simulation-Based Analysis of Interlocking Directorate Network Evolution

New perspectives and ideas for a deeper understanding of how enterprises interact with each other via the inter-business social relations network have been provided by the study of the interlocking directorate network evolution with the help of System Dynamics(SD). This study, guided by the Organization Theory and Social Network Analysis, analyzes both the internal and external drivers that lead to the changes of the network and its functions by utilizing SD-supported simulation. And the result shows that higher marketization and more external shocks increase inter-business directorate linkages; risen directorate linkages and multi-dimensional proximity increase centrality; the longer information dissemination pathways and more external shocks increase the number of communities; and external shocks have a significant impact on the evolution of the interlocking directorate network.