Are patterns of cooperation universal? A simple model of bipartite cooperation for ecological and organizational networks

What do ecological networks, such as the pattern of interactions between plants and animals during pollination, and networks of companies, such as the relationships between manufacturers in an industry, have in common?

The answer is that in both cases the networks are formed by cooperative interactions, where the two parties involved in the each relationship both benefit from their association with each other. This is very different from the zero-sum game associated with competitive interactions, where one person's gain invariably implies another person's loss. Interestingly, it appears that these patterns of cooperation are not only widespread, but also exhibit universal characteristics, with certain types of ecological and organizational networks sharing a surprisingly similar architecture.

These are the findings of a study undertaken by Felix Reed-Tsochas, at the James Martin Institute and CABDyN Complexity Centre, Serguei Saavedra, at the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation and CABDyN Complexity Centre, in collaboration with Brian Uzzi at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University). Their research, published in Nature Advance online publication this week, proposes a new model which not only explains the assembly rules and structural features of pollination networks observed in a range of different habitats, but also can account for the empirically observed characteristics of a network formed by manufacturers and contractors engaged in the joint production of clothing. The highly interdisciplinary approach that the researchers have taken allows them to make a significant contribution to both ecology and management science. The fact that the model can be applied successfully in two radically different contexts suggests that it may be relevant to a far broader range of systems than those analyzed in the present study. The research team is already examining other networks that may display the same behaviour.

S. Saavedra, F. Reed-Tsochas and B. Uzzi, 'A simple model of bipartite cooperation for ecological and organizational networks', Nature Advance online publication, (2008)

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