Social Networks and Graph Theory in the Search for Distant Knowledge

Abstract

This chapter presents how the analysis of social networks supported in graph theory contributes to the search for “distant knowledge” in the field of industrial engineering, discipline of engineering that in its current form began in the early 20th century when the first engineers began to apply scientific theory to manufacturing. In particular, the case of Chilean documented scientific production in this area of engineering is analyzed as a category of the web of science distinguishing its degree of connection with the great knowledge, generating organizations worldwide, determining its high dissociation with the great contemporary theoretical referents, and recommending the way to reduce these problems in the future.