Perceived technology clusters and ownership of related technologies: the case of consumer electronics

We contribute to the understanding of how technologies may be perceived to be part of technology clusters. The value added of the paper is both at a theoretical and empirical level. We add to the theoretical understanding of technology clusters by distinguishing between clusters in perceptions and clusters in ownership and by proposing a mechanism to explain the existence of clusters. Our empirical analysis combines qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate clusters of consumer electronics for a sample of Dutch consumers. We find that perceived clusters in consumer electronics are mostly determined by functional linkages and that perceived technology clusters are good predictors of ownership clusters, but only for less widely diffused products.Technology clusters, consumer electronics, innovation

Leveraging Open-standard Interorganizational Information Systems for Process Adaptability and Alignment: An Empirical Analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the value creation mechanisms of open-standard inter-organizational information system (OSIOS), which is a key technology to achieve Industry 4.0. Specifically, this study investigates how the internal assimilation and external diffusion of OSIOS help manufactures facilitate process adaptability and alignment in supply chain network.Design/methodology/approachA survey instrument was designed and administrated to collect data for this research. Using three-stage least squares estimation, the authors empirically tested a number of hypothesized relationships based on a sample of 308 manufacturing firms in China.FindingsThe results of the study show that OSIOS can perform as value creation mechanisms to enable process adaptability and alignment. In addition, the impact of OSIOS internal assimilation is inversely U-shaped where the positive effect on process adaptability will become negative after an extremum point is reached.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights on how OSIOS can improve supply chain integration and thus promote the achievement of industry 4.0. By revealing a U-shaped relationship between OSIOS assimilation and process adaptability, this study fills previous research gap by advancing the understanding on the value creation mechanisms of information systems deployment

Granular technologies to accelerate decarbonization

Of the 45 energy technologies deemed critical by the International Energy Agency for meeting global climate targets, 38 need to improve substan- tially in cost and performance while accelerating deployment over the next decades.Low-carbon technological solutions vary in scale from solar panels, e-bikes, and smart thermostats to carbon capture and storage, light rail transit, and whole-building retrofits. We make three contributions to long-standing debates on the appropriate scale of technological responses in the energy system. First, we focus on the specific needs of accelerated low-carbon transformation: rapid technology deployment, escaping lock-in, and social legitimacy. Second, we synthesize evidence on energy end-use technologies in homes, transport, and industry, as well as electricity generation and energy supply. Third, we go beyond technical and economic considerations to include innovation, investment, deployment, social, and equity criteria for assessing the relative advantage of alternative technologies as a function of their scale. We suggest numerous potential advantages of more-granular energy technologies for accelerating progress toward climate targets, as well as the conditions on which such progress depends

Limits to Modularity: A Review of the Literature and Evidence from Chip Design

This working paper has been prepared as part of the East-West Center's research project on Globalization of Knowledge Work: Why is Chip Design Moving to Asia. In this paper, Dieter assesses what we know about the limits to modularity and their impact on firm organization and industry structure. He focuses on evidence form chip design, drawing on interview on 2002 and 2003 with a sample of 60 companies and 15 research institutions that are involved in chip design in the US, Taiwan, Korea, China and Malaysia. It is summarized "stylized" propositions of the modularity literature that are well-established, as well as predictions that are controversial. In addition, important limits to modularity and relevant management responses were reviewed.

The Market Process and The Firm Toward a Dynamic Property Rights Perspective

We discuss the relations between alternative conceptualizations of the market process - neoclassical, Austrian and radical subjectivist/evolutionary - and alternative approaches to economic organization, for example, nexus of contract theory, Williamsonian transaction cost economics and the dynamic transaction cost approach of Langlois and Robertson. We argue that there is a distinct need for more firmly grounding theories of economic organization in theories of the market process, and that key ideas of the more dynamic conceptualizations of the market are likely to substantially enrichen the theory of economic organization.The market process, the theory of the firm

This is Bangalore calling: hang up or speed dial? what technology-enabled international trade in services means for the U.S. economy and workforce

The U.S. service sector is in the midst of a transformation similar to the one undergone by the manufacturing sector. Some jobs are moving to other countries, some are disappearing, some are being born. But the service-sector transformation is likely to be different. Technological advances and globalization are making it possible, but these factors reinforce each other in such a way that the gains to the U.S. economy are likely to be greater than with manufacturing, and the transition costs more widespread. Thus, superior and better coordinated domestic and international policies are needed to address the challenges and opportunities.Service industries

Market fields structure & dynamics in industrial automation

There is a research tradition in the economics of standards which addresses standards wars, antitrust concerns or positive externalities from standards. Recent research has also dealt with the process characteristics of standardisation, de facto standard-setting consortia and intellectual property concerns in the technology specification or implementation phase. Nonetheless, there are no studies which analyse capabilities, comparative industry dynamics or incentive structures sufficiently in the context of standard-setting. In my study, I address the characteristics of collaborative research and standard-setting as a new mode of deploying assets beyond motivations well-known from R&D consortia or market alliances. On the basis of a case study of a leading user organisation in the market for industrial automation technology, but also a descriptive network analysis of cross-community affiliations, I demonstrate that there must be a paradoxical relationship between cooperation and competition. More precisely, I explain how there can be a dual relationship between value creation and value capture respecting exploration and exploitation. My case study emphasises the dynamics between knowledge stocks (knowledge alignment, narrowing and deepening) produced by collaborative standard setting and innovation; it also sheds light on an evolutional relationship between the exploration of assets and use cases and each firm's exploitation activities in the market. I derive standard-setting capabilities from an empirical analysis of membership structures, policies and incumbent firm characteristics in selected, but leading, user organisations. The results are as follows: the market for industrial automation technology is characterised by collaboration on standards, high technology influences of other industries and network effects on standards. Further, system integrators play a decisive role in value creation in the customer-specific business case. Standard-setting activities appear to be loosely coupled to the products offered on the market. Core leaders in world standards in industrial automation own a variety of assets and they are affiliated to many standard-setting communities rather than exclusively committed to a few standards. Furthermore, their R&D ratios outperform those of peripheral members and experience in standard-setting processes can be assumed. Standard-setting communities specify common core concepts as the basis for the development of each member's proprietary products, complementary technologies and industrial services. From a knowledge-based perspective, the targeted disclosure of certain knowledge can be used to achieve high innovation returns through systemic products which add proprietary features to open standards. Finally, the interplay between exploitation and exploration respecting the deployment of standard-setting capabilities linked to cooperative, pre-competitive processes leads to an evolution in common technology owned and exploited by the standard-setting community as a particular kind of innovation ecosystem. --standard-setting,innovation,industry dynamics and context,industrial automation

Cultural Underpinnings of Nanotechnology and Industrial Development Diffusion in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Context of Cultural Determinism in Accounting Innovation

The paper presents a fundamental analysis of how differential interpretations and uses of accounting innovations stimulate technological diffusion and industrial development in the argument of the relevance of accounting within the emergent technological milieu already threatening several professions. It identifies how the meanings and interpretations of accounting innovations contributed to the cultural determinants of various industrial epoch. Relying on the theory of cultural determinism in accounting and using Geert Hofstede 6D Model of National Culture to explain that the diffusion of technology and industrial development is also culturally dependent, the paper shows that the lack of the use of accounting innovation is implicated in the inability to translate technological advancements into industrial developments in parts of the world. The paper recommends that changes in the organizational structure, culture and strategy stimulated by accounting innovations be embraced to tilt the tide in favour of faster-paced translation of nanotechnology and other high-level technological advancements into industrial development in African and other developing economies

Impact of e-commerce on European containerboard demand

This master’s thesis investigates the impact of business-to-consumer electronic commerce (later e-commerce) on European containerboard demand. In e-commerce, products are usually shipped separately to consumers, which increases secondary package’s role in distribution. The main functions of e-commerce packaging are protection, convenience and brand communication. In addition, consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable packaging solutions. The most used packaging material in e-commerce is corrugated board, followed by flexible plastics. Corrugated board uses containerboard as raw material in liners and flutings. The overall European containerboard market is well known but the impact of e-commerce on the European containerboard demand is unclear. Due to robust growth of e-commerce and lack of research on e-commerce packaging, the main goal of this research is to investigate the demand drivers for containerboard used in e-commerce packaging, paying attention to the growing sustainability concerns. The research was done for a case company, which is a global business advisor in industry and energy sectors. The objectives of this market research were achieved with literature review and by having in total 42 answerers in interviews and online survey. The biggest drivers for containerboard demand in e-commerce packaging are overall economic situation and e-commerce development. As well, competition between packaging materials and growing sustainability concerns are big drivers. Fibre-based packaging materials are currently perceived as more sustainable than plastics due to recyclability. On the other hand, corrugated packaging may face challenges due to overpackaging, which needs to be reduced. Policies may arise due to sustainability concerns and they can have both positive and negative impacts on future e-commerce packaging demand. Big online retailers are followed in the market and their packaging decisions are observed by other retailers. Containerboard related trends in e-commerce packaging are requirements of lighter but stronger material and favour of recycled fibre-based containerboard. E-commerce packaging material decision is made based on need of protection, cost, perceived sustainability, brand image and compatibility. Corrugated packaging has advantage over substitute materials when protection is needed. On the other hand, plastics and other flexible solutions are often less expensive than corrugated board, which means that they are usually favoured when protection is non-relevant. Packaging should be compatible with requirements of the supply chain, involving increase of automated packaging processes and intelligent packaging solutions. Good printability, opening experience and returnability are increasingly demanded from e-commerce packaging. As part of market research, the current demand of containerboard used in e-commerce packaging was estimated. Approximately 10% of the total containerboard demand in Europe is e-commerce packaging, of which 85% represent recycled fibre-based containerboard. To conclude, the growth of e-commerce and overall consumption, together with need of protective packaging create the containerboard demand in e-commerce packaging