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Dancing in shackles: interactive learning of industrial design firms in Beijing

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  • Huasheng Zhu
  • Pengfei Li

Abstract

The paper addresses the structure-agency dilemma of interactive learning in innovation systems, namely the structuration process of how macro-conditions shape micro-actions of firms and the agency process of how firms react to macro-structures. We argue organizational boundaries of firms are an important dimension to tackle the structure-agency dilemma of interactive learning. Specifically, we propose the structuration process can occur through a boundary-stabilizing mechanism while the agency process can happen with a boundary-changing mechanism. We investigate the newly established industrial design firms in China and find that industrial policies, a weak design education system, a fixed-price practice for industrial designs set up clear boundaries between industrial designers and manufacturers, which restrict their interactive learning. To the agency process, we observe a few industrial design firms upgrade by extending their organizational boundaries upstream or downstream in their value chains. Further, we suggest the structuration and agency processes can be context-specific.

Suggested Citation

  • Huasheng Zhu & Pengfei Li, 2019. "Dancing in shackles: interactive learning of industrial design firms in Beijing," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5), pages 568-591, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:indinn:v:26:y:2019:i:5:p:568-591
    DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2018.1473243
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    Cited by:

    1. Li Pengfei & Turkina Ekaterina & Van Assche Ari, 2022. "The Tortoise and the Hare: Industry Clockspeed and Resilience of Production and Knowledge Networks in Montréal’s Aerospace Industry," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 66(2), pages 81-95, July.
    2. Zhenshan Yang, 2023. "Human capital space: a spatial perspective of the dynamics of people and economic relationships," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.

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