Towards a framework for dynamic technology strategy

Technology Analysis and Strategic Management

Volumn 10, Issue 1, 1998, Pages 111-129

  Chiesa, Vittorio ^a   Manzini, Raffaella ^b  

^a POLITECNICO DI MILANO   (Italy)

^b CREMS Centre for Research on Health Economics Social and Health Care Management Carlo Cattaneo University LIUC   (Italy)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0000650025     PISSN: 09537325     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09537329808524307     Document Type: Review

References (40)

1. U. Bertelé & S. Mariotti, Impresa e Competizione Dinamica (Milan, EtasLibri, 1991
2. M. Porter, Competitive Advantage (New York, Free Press, 1985).
3. R. D'Aveni, Hypacompetitive Rivalries - Competing in Highly Dynamic Environments (New York, Free Press, 1994).
4. In this paper, 'product paradigm' means the product configuration and its constituent technologies; the authors do not refer to the concept of 'technological paradigm' as defined by Giovanni Dosi and used in industrial economics literature. G. Dosi, 'Technological Paradigms and Technological Trajectories: A Suggested Interpretation of the Directions of Technical Change', Research Policy, 11, 1982, pp. 147-162; G. Dosi & L. Orsenigo, 'Coordination and Transformation: An Overview of Structures, Behaviours and Change in Evolutionary Environments', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 13-37; G. Dosi & D. J. Teece, Organizational Competencies and the Boundaries of the Firm', in: Market and Organization: The Competitive Firm and Its Environment (Nice, Latapses, 1993); P. Saviotti & J. S. Metcalfe, Evolutionary Theories of Economic and Technical Change (Reading, MA, Harwood Academic, 1991).
5. In this paper, 'product paradigm' means the product configuration and its constituent technologies; the authors do not refer to the concept of 'technological paradigm' as defined by Giovanni Dosi and used in industrial economics literature. G. Dosi, 'Technological Paradigms and Technological Trajectories: A Suggested Interpretation of the Directions of Technical Change', Research Policy, 11, 1982, pp. 147-162; G. Dosi & L. Orsenigo, 'Coordination and Transformation: An Overview of Structures, Behaviours and Change in Evolutionary Environments', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 13-37; G. Dosi & D. J. Teece, Organizational Competencies and the Boundaries of the Firm', in: Market and Organization: The Competitive Firm and Its Environment (Nice, Latapses, 1993); P. Saviotti & J. S. Metcalfe, Evolutionary Theories of Economic and Technical Change (Reading, MA, Harwood Academic, 1991).
6. In this paper, 'product paradigm' means the product configuration and its constituent technologies; the authors do not refer to the concept of 'technological paradigm' as defined by Giovanni Dosi and used in industrial economics literature. G. Dosi, 'Technological Paradigms and Technological Trajectories: A Suggested Interpretation of the Directions of Technical Change', Research Policy, 11, 1982, pp. 147-162; G. Dosi & L. Orsenigo, 'Coordination and Transformation: An Overview of Structures, Behaviours and Change in Evolutionary Environments', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 13-37; G. Dosi & D. J. Teece, Organizational Competencies and the Boundaries of the Firm', in: Market and Organization: The Competitive Firm and Its Environment (Nice, Latapses, 1993); P. Saviotti & J. S. Metcalfe, Evolutionary Theories of Economic and Technical Change (Reading, MA, Harwood Academic, 1991).
7. In this paper, 'product paradigm' means the product configuration and its constituent technologies; the authors do not refer to the concept of 'technological paradigm' as defined by Giovanni Dosi and used in industrial economics literature. G. Dosi, 'Technological Paradigms and Technological Trajectories: A Suggested Interpretation of the Directions of Technical Change', Research Policy, 11, 1982, pp. 147-162; G. Dosi & L. Orsenigo, 'Coordination and Transformation: An Overview of Structures, Behaviours and Change in Evolutionary Environments', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 13-37; G. Dosi & D. J. Teece, Organizational Competencies and the Boundaries of the Firm', in: Market and Organization: The Competitive Firm and Its Environment (Nice, Latapses, 1993); P. Saviotti & J. S. Metcalfe, Evolutionary Theories of Economic and Technical Change (Reading, MA, Harwood Academic, 1991).
8. D'Aveni, op. cit., Ref. 3.
9. The potential of an innovation in terms of sustainability does not depend on the type of advantage. In other words, the extent to which an innovation can be exploited, i.e. the advantage it creates in terms of know-how or timing, is not related to the fact that the advantage concerns a type of the above taxonomy. There may be sustainable advantages related to innovation in costs or perceived quality in a stable product/market, and there may be weak advantages related to the creation of new product/market combinations. The usual classification of innovations between incremental and radical can neither be associated to the type of advantage that the innovation has created nor predict whether the innovation is appropriable or not.
10. J. Friar & M. Horwitch, 'The Emergence of Technology Strategy: A New Dimension of Strategic Management', in: M. Horwitch (Ed.), Technology in the Modern Corporation - A Strategic Perspective (Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, Strategic Management An Integrative Perspective (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, The Strategic Concept and Process: A Pragmatic Approach (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & M. No, 'Linking Technology and Business Strategies: A Methodological Approach and an Illustration', Working Paper 3383-92BPS, MIT, Sloan School of Management, February 1992.
11. J. Friar & M. Horwitch, 'The Emergence of Technology Strategy: A New Dimension of Strategic Management', in: M. Horwitch (Ed.), Technology in the Modern Corporation - A Strategic Perspective (Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, Strategic Management An Integrative Perspective (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, The Strategic Concept and Process: A Pragmatic Approach (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & M. No, 'Linking Technology and Business Strategies: A Methodological Approach and an Illustration', Working Paper 3383-92BPS, MIT, Sloan School of Management, February 1992.
12. J. Friar & M. Horwitch, 'The Emergence of Technology Strategy: A New Dimension of Strategic Management', in: M. Horwitch (Ed.), Technology in the Modern Corporation - A Strategic Perspective (Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, Strategic Management An Integrative Perspective (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, The Strategic Concept and Process: A Pragmatic Approach (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & M. No, 'Linking Technology and Business Strategies: A Methodological Approach and an Illustration', Working Paper 3383-92BPS, MIT, Sloan School of Management, February 1992.
13. J. Friar & M. Horwitch, 'The Emergence of Technology Strategy: A New Dimension of Strategic Management', in: M. Horwitch (Ed.), Technology in the Modern Corporation - A Strategic Perspective (Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, Strategic Management An Integrative Perspective (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & N. S. Majluf, The Strategic Concept and Process: A Pragmatic Approach (Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1984); A. C. Hax & M. No, 'Linking Technology and Business Strategies: A Methodological Approach and an Illustration', Working Paper 3383-92BPS, MIT, Sloan School of Management, February 1992.
14. Hax & Majluf (1984, 1991), op. cit., Ref. 7.
15. J. H. Harris, R. W. Shaw Jr & W. P. Sommers, 'The Strategic Management of Technology', Outlook, Fall/Winter 1981;
16. R. N. Foster, 'Timing Technological Transitions', in: M. Horwitch (Ed.), Technology in the Modern Corporation - A Strategic Perspective (Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986);
17. A. D. Little, 'The Strategic Management of Technology', Paper presented at the European Management Forum, Davos, 1981;
18. G. R. Mitchell, 'New Approaches for the Strategic Management of Technology', in: M. Honwitch (Ed.), Technology in the Modern Corporation - A Strategic Perspective (Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986);
19. P. Roussel, K. Saad & T. Erickson, Third Generation R&D (Boston, HBS Press, 1991).
20. Porter, op. cit., Ref. 2.
21. Ibid.
22. V. Chiesa, P. Coughlan & C. A. Voss, 'Development of a Technical Innovation Audit', International Journal of Product Innovation Management, 13, 1996, pp. 105-136; G. Hamel & C. K. Prahalad, Competing for the Future (Cambridge, MA, Harvard Business School Press, 1994); R. K. Moenart, 'Firm Resources and the Meaning of Innovation Success', Paper presented to the International Workshop on Core Competence, Genk, Belgium, November 1992; C. K. Prahalad & G. Hamel, 'The Core Competence of the Corporation', Harvard Business Review, 68, 1990, pp. 79-91.
23. V. Chiesa, P. Coughlan & C. A. Voss, 'Development of a Technical Innovation Audit', International Journal of Product Innovation Management, 13, 1996, pp. 105-136; G. Hamel & C. K. Prahalad, Competing for the Future (Cambridge, MA, Harvard Business School Press, 1994); R. K. Moenart, 'Firm Resources and the Meaning of Innovation Success', Paper presented to the International Workshop on Core Competence, Genk, Belgium, November 1992; C. K. Prahalad & G. Hamel, 'The Core Competence of the Corporation', Harvard Business Review, 68, 1990, pp. 79-91.
24. V. Chiesa, P. Coughlan & C. A. Voss, 'Development of a Technical Innovation Audit', International Journal of Product Innovation Management, 13, 1996, pp. 105-136; G. Hamel & C. K. Prahalad, Competing for the Future (Cambridge, MA, Harvard Business School Press, 1994); R. K. Moenart, 'Firm Resources and the Meaning of Innovation Success', Paper presented to the International Workshop on Core Competence, Genk, Belgium, November 1992; C. K. Prahalad & G. Hamel, 'The Core Competence of the Corporation', Harvard Business Review, 68, 1990, pp. 79-91.
25. V. Chiesa, P. Coughlan & C. A. Voss, 'Development of a Technical Innovation Audit', International Journal of Product Innovation Management, 13, 1996, pp. 105-136; G. Hamel & C. K. Prahalad, Competing for the Future (Cambridge, MA, Harvard Business School Press, 1994); R. K. Moenart, 'Firm Resources and the Meaning of Innovation Success', Paper presented to the International Workshop on Core Competence, Genk, Belgium, November 1992; C. K. Prahalad & G. Hamel, 'The Core Competence of the Corporation', Harvard Business Review, 68, 1990, pp. 79-91.
26. V. Chiesa & R. Manzini, 'Competence Levels within Firms: A Static and Dynamic Analysis', in: A. Heene & R. Sanchez (Eds), Competence-based Strategic Management (Chichester, John Wiley & Sons, 1996); Dosi & Teece, op. cit., Ref. 4.
27. V. Chiesa & R. Manzini, 'Competence Levels within Firms: A Static and Dynamic Analysis', in: A. Heene & R. Sanchez (Eds), Competence-based Strategic Management (Chichester, John Wiley & Sons, 1996); Dosi & Teece, op. cit., Ref. 4.
28. Dosi, op. cit., Ref. 4; R. R. Nelson & S. G. Winter, An Exolutionary Theory of Economic Change (Cambridge MA, The Belknap Press, 1982); Saviotti & Metcalfe, op. cit., Ref. 4.
29. Dosi, op. cit., Ref. 4; R. R. Nelson & S. G. Winter, An Exolutionary Theory of Economic Change (Cambridge MA, The Belknap Press, 1982); Saviotti & Metcalfe, op. cit., Ref. 4.
30. Dosi, op. cit., Ref. 4; R. R. Nelson & S. G. Winter, An Exolutionary Theory of Economic Change (Cambridge MA, The Belknap Press, 1982); Saviotti & Metcalfe, op. cit., Ref. 4.
31. Dosi & Orsenigo, op. cit., Ref. 4; Nelson & Winter op. cit., Ref. 14; D. Teece, 'Technological Change and the Nature of the Firm', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 256-281; S. G. Winter, 'Four Rs of Profitability: Rents, Resources, Routines and Replication', in: C. A. Montgomery (Ed.), Resource-based and Evolutionary Theories of the Firm Boston, Kluwer Academic, 1995, pp. 147-178.
32. Dosi & Orsenigo, op. cit., Ref. 4; Nelson & Winter op. cit., Ref. 14; D. Teece, 'Technological Change and the Nature of the Firm', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 256-281; S. G. Winter, 'Four Rs of Profitability: Rents, Resources, Routines and Replication', in: C. A. Montgomery (Ed.), Resource-based and Evolutionary Theories of the Firm Boston, Kluwer Academic, 1995, pp. 147-178.
33. Dosi & Orsenigo, op. cit., Ref. 4; Nelson & Winter op. cit., Ref. 14; D. Teece, 'Technological Change and the Nature of the Firm', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 256-281; S. G. Winter, 'Four Rs of Profitability: Rents, Resources, Routines and Replication', in: C. A. Montgomery (Ed.), Resource-based and Evolutionary Theories of the Firm Boston, Kluwer Academic, 1995, pp. 147-178.
34. Dosi & Orsenigo, op. cit., Ref. 4; Nelson & Winter op. cit., Ref. 14; D. Teece, 'Technological Change and the Nature of the Firm', in: G. Dosi, C. Freeman, R. Nelson, G. Silverberg & L. Soete (Eds), Technical Change and Economic Theory (London, Pinter, 1988), pp. 256-281; S. G. Winter, 'Four Rs of Profitability: Rents, Resources, Routines and Replication', in: C. A. Montgomery (Ed.), Resource-based and Evolutionary Theories of the Firm Boston, Kluwer Academic, 1995, pp. 147-178.
35. The concept of technological trajectory has been developed by evolutionary theorists, and is strictly related to the concept of technological paradigm (Dosi, op. cit., Ref. 4; Dosi & Orsenigo, op. cit., Ref. 4). However, in this paper, the word 'trajectory' is used with a general meaning, as "the path of any body moving under the action of given forces" (Oxford English Dictionary, 1989). In this context, the firm is the 'body moving' and the strategic decisions are the 'forces' guiding this movement.
36. Friar & Honwitch, op. cit., Ref. 7.
37. Chiesa et al., op. cit., Ref. 12.
38. G. Hamel, 'Competition for Competence and Interpartner Learning within International Startegic Alliances', Strategic Management Journal, 12, 1992, pp. 83-103.
39. They can be considered as a sort of base skill for building the firm's competencies. It should be noted that the concept of base skill should not be viewed as the concept of base technology in the traditional approaches, i.e. technology commonly available. Instead, it should be seen as a set of knowledge embedded, diffused and available within the organization, able to generate differentials and advantages.
40. W. M. Cohen & D. A. Levinthal, 'Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation' Administrative Science Quarterly, 35, 1990, pp. 128-152.