Catch-up in Technology-driven Services: The Case of the Indian Software Services Industry

Past studies on catch-up processes have focused primarily on manufacturing industries. The present paper studies catch-up processes in the context of the Indian software services industry and finds that the existing models are unable to comprehensively explain the catch-up processes in this industry. The authors provide a fresh perspective on catch-up processes based on scientific intensity and production maturity of individual technologies, and propose catch-up paths for individual companies from a technological perspective. Firms initially focus on productionizing highly mature technologies, and then leverage that learning to move into technologies of higher scientific intensity. External factors such as product market conditions play a major role as well in firms ability and motivation to make such moves

Local innovation: The key to globalisation

The round table discussion draws the panellists to weigh in on how multinational enterprises from developed countries are innovating in and for emerging markets, the challenges faced, and lessons learnt. The key takeaways are that MNEs are increasingly innovating for the Indian market, alongside their contribution to global products. They are doing so by developing close relationships with field facing organisations, co-creating with customers, empowering engineers, and taking a clean slate approach to product development. This approach has given them dividends not only in the local market but also in the global market