Intermediate forms and technological change: Exploring the links between technology and topology

The study of technology and technological change is a dynamic field where diverse disciplines from the social sciences and the humanities converge.  It is possible to find several ontologies that incorporate topological referents as heuristic metaphors and simple methodological devices in technological studies.  The paper examines two related topological concepts, continuity and convergence, based on the notions of accumulation of knowledge and a combination of pre-existing technologies to arrive at the notions of convergence and inflation.  The paper concludes with some future research guidelines that formally explore the potential of topology in technology and technological change studies

System interactions in socio-technical transitions: Extending the multi-level perspective

This paper discusses contextual issues in sociotechnical systems and transitions under the Multi Level Perspective (MLP). It emphasises inter system interactions, for which a typology is developed drawing on a review and meta level analysis of published transition case studies. The typology is subsequently associated to the MLP transitions pathways. A novel transition pathway, is derived through this process, namely new system emergence, for systems that emerge from contributions of existing antecedent sociotechnical systems

Foundational ontologies and multi-paradigm analysis, applied to the socio-technical transition from mixed farming to intensive pig husbandry (1930-1980)

This article adds a new case study to the expanding literature on socio-technical transitions: the shift from mixed farming to intensive pig husbandry in the Netherlands. With regard to this transition, the article addresses a new direction, namely the role of foundational ontologies in explanation. Five ontologies are distinguished, which are based on different assumptions about causal agents and causal mechanisms: rational choice, functionalism, conflict and power struggle, interpretivism, and structuralism. The article demonstrates how these ontologies provide different explanations of same case. It also empirically investigates the strengths and weaknesses of different ontological explanations, and identifies possible complementarities in this case. The article ends with theoretical reflections on the relationships between ontologies and the role of meta-paradigm analysis

Sistemas sociotécnicos, innovación y desarrollo.

From an Latin American perspective, a framework has been developed with input from social studies of technology (SST) and the complex systems evolutionary economics (EE) to address issues related to innovation processes, technological change and development in this region. The framework operates under assumptions of middle-range theory, bounded field-oriented problems, making combinations of concepts and generating an explanatory framework. The framework states: simplicity in the selection of concepts (convergent), specificity to understand and describe the dynamics, trajectory, joints and configurations of socio-technical systems of production and innovation. Finally, it provides a perspective of generality and scope, an explanatory model (medium range) that incorporates the contributions of empirical research generated in the political debate about development in the region. Raised in the working paper presented in paragraph 1, the contributions of the social studies of technology and evolutionary economics of complex systems to be used in the framework. Paragraph 2 sets out the key concepts of the framework and the connection between them, together with the assumptions that structure it. In section 3 describes the concepts in the context of the functioning of socio-technical systems of production and innovation. Then as a closure raises some issues to address research problems specific to the Latin American context, where you can apply the methodological framework and the implications thereof

Policy mixes for incumbency: the destructive recreation of renewable energy, shale gas 'fracking,' and nuclear power in the United Kingdom

The notion of a ‘policy mix’ can describe interactions across a wide range of innovation policies, including ‘motors for creation’ as well as for ‘destruction’. This paper focuses on the United Kingdom’s (UK) ‘new policy direction’ that has weakened support for renewables and energy efficiency schemes while strengthening promotion of nuclear power and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas (‘fracking’). The paper argues that a ‘policy apparatus for incumbency’ is emerging which strengthens key regimebased technologies while arguably damaging emerging niche innovations. Basing the discussion around the three technology-based cases of renewable energy and efficiency, fracking, and nuclear power, this paper refers to this process as “destructive recreation”. Our study raises questions over the extent to which policymaking in the energy field is not so much driven by stated aims around sustainability transitions, as by other policy drivers. It investigates different ‘strategies of incumbency’ including ‘securitization’, ‘masking’, ‘reinvention’, and ‘capture.’ It suggests that analytical frameworks should extend beyond the particular sectors in focus, with notions of what counts as a relevant ‘policy maker’ correspondingly also expanded, in order to explore a wider range of nodes and critical junctures as entry points for understanding how relations of incumbency are forged and reproduced

Essays on pig production efficiency and farmers' financial decisions under uncertainty

Recent structural changes in agricultural production towards fewer, but larger, units pose challenges for farmers in decision making about practical production and about managerial practices to increase efficiency, which are vital for farm productivity and profitability. In studies using mathematical programming and econometric models, this thesis evaluated farm-specific characteristics related to the individual technical efficiency (TE) of each input and output factor and of managerial characteristics associated with persistent TE (PTE) and residual TE (RTE). Regarding farm-specific variables, the results indicated that advisory services, farm location and most housing practices were not significant for technical efficiency, with the exception of recent technology such as heated floors. Use of written instructions on feeding and in preventing infectious diseases was associated with higher technical efficiency. For the best results, decision makers should use separate approaches depending on pig production specialisation and the input or output efficiency requiring improvement. Regarding managerial practices, managerial experience, economy-driven goals and use of strategic management accounting practices were drivers of PTE. In contrast, conducting bookkeeping checks more frequently and focusing on meeting market demands in terms of quality were negatively associated with PTE. Joint time significance evaluation of lagged individual technical efficiency on variables of structural change in the regression model confirmed the long-term nature of investments in Swedish pig farming. Under uncertainty, decisions made by farmers may be biased, producing suboptimal solutions. For example, illusion of control can give a sense of controlling power in situations where the outcome is determined by chance. Alternative ways to collate and analyse data are needed to evaluate behaviours under uncertainty. Presence of illusion of control in farmers’ financial decisions was explored in a study with a framed economic experimental design, survey data and a psychological scale. The results did not indicate the presence of illusion of control in the sample of Swedish farmers studied. The outcome measures showed low levels of correlation, suggesting that different methods and measurement instruments are complements, rather than substitutes. Findings provide information that could help farmers in their complex production and managerial decisions