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Inter-generational transitions in socio-technical systems: The case of mobile communications

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  • Ansari, Shahzad
  • Garud, Raghu
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    Abstract

    Many technology studies have conceptualized transitions between technological generations as a series of S-curve performance improvements over time. Surprisingly, the interregnum between successive generations has received little attention. To understand what happens in the interregnum, we study the transition from 2G to 3G in mobile communications. Our study identifies the presence of forces for both change and continuity across heterogeneous social and technical elements shaping an uneven transition between 2G and 3G mobile communications technology platforms. Unanticipated misalignments and asynchronies that emerged during the journey shifted the incentives of the various actors involved to participate. Based on these observations, we offer several conjectures as to the dynamics that can give rise to temporal discords during inter-generational technological transitions.

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    Bibliographic Info

    Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Research Policy.

    Volume (Year): 38 (2009)
    Issue (Month): 2 (March)
    Pages: 382-392

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    Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:38:y:2009:i:2:p:382-392

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    Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/respol

    Related research

    Keywords: Technological transitions Socio-technical system Collateral technologies Mobile communications S-curve;

    References

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    Cited by:
    1. Klerkx, Laurens & Aarts, Noelle & Leeuwis, Cees, 2010. "Adaptive management in agricultural innovation systems: The interactions between innovation networks and their environment," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(6), pages 390-400, July.

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