Andreas Ligtvoet

Simulation and Gaming for Understanding the Complexity of Cooperation in Industrial Networks

In dealing with the energy challenges that our societies face (dwindling fossil resources, price uncertainty, carbon emissions), we increasingly fall back on system designs that transcend the boundaries of firms, industrial parks or even countries. Whereas from the drawing board the challenges of integrating energy networks already seem daunting, the inclusion of different stakeholders in a process of setting up large energy systems is excruciatingly complex and ripe with uncertainty.

Asset management maturity in public infrastructure: the case of Rijkswaterstaat

In times of restructuring governmental policies and resources, the need for strategic asset management is growing. Maturity models offer organisations a structure to assist them in improving their asset management performance. We present the results of a repeated maturity measurement based on the infrastructure management maturity matrix (IM3) in Rijkswaterstaat, a Dutch public infrastructure organisation. The IM3 distinguishes five maturity levels from ad hoc to optimised, and seven asset management dimensions: information management, internal coordination, external coordination, market approach, risk management, processes and roles, and culture and leadership. The results show significant progress on all dimensions, and continued learning and widespread awareness of asset management in the organisation. In the discussion, we reflect on the findings and possible future developments for the organisation. We also discuss the potential impact of infrastructure maturity models for the professionalisation of other asset intensive organisations

Value Sensitive Design of Complex Product Systems

We increasingly understand technical artefacts as components of complex product systems. These systems are designed, built, maintained, and deprecated by stakeholders with different interests. To maintain interoperability between components, standards are being developed. The standardisation process itself is, however, also influenced by different stakeholders.

When pig meets pencil: the beauty of complexity in industrial networks

The making of pencils and the processing of pigs are complex industrial processes that are seemingly unrelated. We hypothesise about the interwovenness of these processes and argue that individuals wishing to influence these industrial networks need to deal with both detailed and dynamic complexity. This means being more humble about what can be measured and controlled, and being more open to learning and adapting policies.