W1: Anderson & Tushman (1990): Technological Discontinuities and Dominant Designs: A Cyclical Model of Technological Change

Question 1

Paper’s aim

Answer 1

Extends the previous work by exploring the other key punctuating event in the evolution of a technology: the emergence of a dominant design after a technological discontinuity

Question 2

Era of ferment

Answer 2

The introduction of a radical advance increases variation in a product class. It ushers in an era of experimentation as organisations struggle to absorb or destroy the technology. It is characterised by two processes: (1) Competition between technical regimes, and (2) Competition within the new technical regime. Competition between old and new is fierce and variation and selection pressures are substantial due to substitution and design competition

Question 3

Length of the era of ferment

Answer 3

Contingent on the type of technological discountinuity. When competence-destroying, many rival designs appear and it will take longer for the market to sort out the variants. Similarly, firms confronted with the choice of abandoning existing know-how in the face of competence-destroying technical change will defend older technology more stubbornly

Question 4

Dominant design

Answer 4

It permits firms to design standardised and interchangable parts and to optimise organisational processes for volume and efficiency. They permit more stable and reliable relations with suppliers, vendors, and customers. And if the product/process is part of a larger system, industry standards permit system wide compatibility and integration. Difficult to dislodge