Using Tools from the Hierarchical Control System Theory for Evaluating the Complexity of Administrative Work in a Digitally Transforming Research and Technical Environment

Abstract

This paper looks at the peculiarities of managing research organizations against the background of a digital transformation, and raises the issue of how to use tools pertinent to the hierarchical system theory for evaluating governance complexity. According to the analysis of literary sources, some distinguished researchers positively assess the role of the hierarchical coordination method in ensuring high performance in activities related to modern scientific research and technological development. The authors of the article suggest the idea that the digital transformation in the scientific and technological field does not invalidate the theoretical and practical value of the key concepts of the theory of hierarchical systems for scientific organizations, but changes the approach to their application to some extent. The authors favor the position of scientists developing mathematical model approaches to building organizational hierarchies, which are based on the concept of an optimal span of control, and also adapt it to research and development organizations. The article includes a sample calculation of the quantitative parameters of a hierarchical structure for a scientific organization, performed according to the algorithm developed by the authors of the article. The calculation shows the nature of the relationship between the span of control value, the number of management levels, the number of managers and the scientific organization's maximum number of personnel. The authors suggest an idea to clarify the theory of hierarchical control systems, which consists of the fact that the basic concept of the theory must be extended by taking into account the entire complex of communications serving organizational flow. If this becomes a trend, it may shrink the span of control and increase the number of research administrators in a digitally transforming environment.