The evolution and transformation of networks: a study of private health insurance in Ireland

The focus of this research is the process of network evolution and transformation in health insurance. It uses network theory to express the dynamics of change in the private health insurance market and it emphasises the structural features of density and sparseness, as well as relational features of strength and weakness of the ties. The study found that the network was characterised by high centrality, high density and weak ties, and cost efficiency was a key outcome. The study concludes that there needs to be an optimal portfolio of both strong and weak ties, in that together they enable information exchange, knowledge-building and innovation.

Irish journal of management

Irish Journal of Management

29

1649-248X

N/A

1

26