Week 16: Technological Innovation and Change

Question 1

Mintzberg (1994):

Answer 1

Fallacy of pre-determination – can’t predict tech. change, so must remain flexible, forward thinking and cooperative between levels

Question 2

Bower and Christensen (1995)

Answer 2

Disruptive technologies: strong incumbents rarely stay at the top of their industry during technological change Successful fail since they rely too heavily on existing customers (future tech. considered uncertain) Advocates looking for new markets using smaller and independent organizations

Question 2

First movers only have an advantage in theory, later entrants usually take more profits

Answer 2

Cusumano et al 1992

Question 4

Tripsas and Gavetti (2000)

Answer 4

Case study on Polaroid. Organizational inertia (business model didn’t change despite changing technology) and ignoring new developments in capabilities meant Polaroid failed

Question 4

Fallacy of pre-determination – can’t predict tech. change, so must remain flexible, forward thinking and cooperative between levels

Answer 4

Mintzberg (1994):

Question 6

Liberman and Montgomery (1988)

Answer 6

Against Teece 1986, says that first mover advantages pay off. Firm with strong R&D, entrepreneurial vision = first mover. Firm that is skilled in manufacturing and marketing = imitator.

Question 7

Teece 1986

Answer 7

Innovation must be hard to imitate for first mover to profit from it Otherwise, it will be second and third movers who will capture the profits

Question 8

Cusumano et al 1992

Answer 8

First movers only have an advantage in theory, later entrants usually take more profits

Question 9

Disruptive technologies: strong incumbents rarely stay at the top of their industry during technological change Successful fail since they rely too heavily on existing customers (future tech. considered uncertain) Advocates looking for new markets using smaller and independent organizations

Answer 9

Bower and Christensen (1995)

Question 9

Against Teece 1986, says that first mover advantages pay off. Firm with strong R&D, entrepreneurial vision = first mover. Firm that is skilled in manufacturing and marketing = imitator.

Answer 9

Liberman and Montgomery (1988)

Question 11

Case study on Polaroid. Organizational inertia (business model didn’t change despite changing technology) and ignoring new developments in capabilities meant Polaroid failed

Answer 11

Tripsas and Gavetti (2000)

Question 12

Major innovations followed by smaller innovations

Answer 12

Abernathy and Utterback 1978

Question 13

Innovation must be hard to imitate for first mover to profit from it Otherwise, it will be second and third movers who will capture the profits

Answer 13

Teece 1986

Question 14

Abernathy and Utterback 1978

Answer 14

Major innovations followed by smaller innovations

Question 15

Barley 1986

Answer 15

New technologies have social and structural impacts on organisations

Effects vary from firm to firm. Link to Conner 1991

Question 16

New technologies have social and structural impacts on organisations

Effects vary from firm to firm. Link to Conner 1991

Answer 16

Barley 1986

Question 17

Hardagon and Douglas 2001

Answer 17

Importance of design to accepting new innovations.

Using the example of Edison. He modelled his systems on existing gas systems, amking them “palatable “ and easy to accept.

Question 18

Importance of design to accepting new innovations.

Using the example of Edison. He modelled his systems on existing gas systems, amking them “palatable “ and easy to accept.

Answer 18

Hardagon and Douglas 2001