Research On Strength Of Weak Ties And Rich Node Assortativity In Complex Value Networks

It has been verified that the vast social and economic networks are complex networks. As one of the social and economic networks, the supply chain value network is also supposed to be a complex network. The study of its properties is becoming more and more important.Rich nodes and rich-club exists in the complex networks. It results from a small numbers of vertices possessing larger numbers of links, and they are tend to be connected with each other. This tendency forms rich clubs. Meanwhile, the complex networks have some kind of assortativity and disasortativity. Furthermore, weak ties have much strength.This thesis studies the strength of weak ties and rich node assortativity, based on the following methods:1. Mathematical modeling, including definition, proving and reasoning. These methods form a general theory model of complex value network;2. Factor analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. These methods are used as empirical tools to explore the strength of weak ties and its relationship with rich node assortativity.Included competition of vertices and local world, this thesis provides the formulation process of a general complex network model. During the discussion of several evolving models, it has been discovered that in the absence of priority connecting, the general complex network is not a small world network.In the simplified discussions, it has been realized that the complex value network is assortative and lack of rich club.Through empirical studies on weak ties, it has been concluded that, weak ties are not featured in complex value networks. Strong ties are dominate. With regards to the specific factors, the extent of trust and switching costs are positively related to the enterprise's reliability, the contract relationship is negatively related to the enterprise's reliability, the extent of trust is positively related to the switching costs.Further discussion concludes that strong ties are resulting from assortativity of complex value networks and the evolution of time.