As a result of its widespread implementation in economic and social structures, the network concept appears to be a paradigm of the contemporary world. The need for various services – transport, energy, consumption of manufacturing goods, provision of care, information and communication, etc. – draws users into interwoven networks which are meshes of material and immaterial flows. In this context, the user is a consumer of goods and services from industries and administrations, or they themselves are part of the organization (digital social networks).

This book examines the invariants that unify networks in their diversity, as well as the specificities that differentiate them. It provides a reading grid that distinguishes a generic level where these systems find a common interpretation, and a specific level where appropriate analytical methods are used. Three case studies from different fields are presented to illustrate the purpose of the book in detail.

Jean-Paul Bourrières is Emeritus Professor at the University of Bordeaux, France.
Nathalie Pinède is Associate Professor at Bordeaux Montaigne University, France.
Mamadou Kaba Traoré is Professor at the University of Bordeaux, France.
Gregory Zacharewicz is Professor at IMT Mines Alès, France.