Rethinking the role of the state in technology development: DARPA and the case for embedded network governance

This paper explores the role of the state in re-architecting social networks and thereby new technology directions in the United States. It draws on a case study of DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office from 1992 to 2008. Leveraging one of the most radical directorships in DARPA's history, I argue that the perceived "death" of DARPA under Tony Tether was because past analyses, by focusing on the organization's culture and structure, overlooked a set of lasting, informal institutions among DARPA program managers. I find that despite significant changes in the recipients and outcomes of DARPA attentions, these same institutions for directing technology were in place both before and during Tether's directorship. Drawing on these results, I suggest that we must add to technology policy-making a new option--embedded network governance.DARPA State Innovation Social Network Computer

Plastic cars in China? The significance of production location over markets for technology competitiveness in the United States versus the People's Republic of China

This paper demonstrates the significance of location-specific differences in manufacturing characteristics and in consumer demand for technology competitiveness. It looks, in particular, at the economic viability of emerging polymer composite automobile body technologies if produced in the United States (U.S.) versus if produced in the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) The results show that polymer composite bodies, when produced locally for the local market, are competitive for significantly fewer cars in the P.R.C. (7%) than in the U.S. (29%). Despite consumer demand characteristics in the P.R.C. being more favorable for composites, differences in production characteristics between the two locations dominate the overall effect. These results suggest that in cases such as automobile bodies where markets and manufacturing location are tightly coupled, firms may need to put as much emphasis on understanding the impact of local production differences on technology competitiveness as in understanding local markets.International Product development Design for manufacturing Automobile