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Implications Of Technological Convergence On Innovation Trajectories: The Case Of Ict Industry

Author

Listed:
  • FREDRIK HACKLIN

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Chair for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Kreuzplatz 5, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • VICENTE RAURICH

    (Siemens AG, Building Technologies, Gubelstrasse 22, CH-6301 Zug, Switzerland)

  • CHRISTIAN MARXT

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Chair for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Kreuzplatz 5, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland)

Abstract

Current innovation management literature and research statically differentiates between incremental and disruptive innovation, as far as the trajectory development is concerned. Incremental innovation is generally comprehended as an improvement of technology performance or product feature enhancement, whereas disruptive innovation is defined based on technologies previously new to the world, combined with their effects on markets. The authors of this research present how a convergence of several well-known, incrementally developing technologies can result in innovations with highly disruptive character in terms of innovation trajectories. Paradoxically, in disruptive situations, operative actions must be taken before strategic planning can be made, as the industrial and economic environment can be regarded as extremely uncertain. In this context, however, we argue that this special case caused by the convergence of technologies can serve to understand certain areas of emerging industrial disruptions and hence support the strategic planning and technology management of a firm acting in this area. The case of information and communication technology (ICT) industry is used to highlight this convergence phenomenon as a special case of emerging disruptive innovation. Based on this example, the process of innovations transforming from incremental towards disruptive due to convergence will be examined, and entrepreneurial recommendations for sustaining the competitive advantage and supporting value creation will be derived.

Suggested Citation

  • Fredrik Hacklin & Vicente Raurich & Christian Marxt, 2005. "Implications Of Technological Convergence On Innovation Trajectories: The Case Of Ict Industry," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(03), pages 313-330.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:ijitmx:v:02:y:2005:i:03:n:s0219877005000526
    DOI: 10.1142/S0219877005000526
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Freeman, Chris & Louca, Francisco, 2002. "As Time Goes By: From the Industrial Revolutions to the Information Revolution," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199251056.
    2. Vanhaverbeke, W. & Kirschbaum, R., 2003. "Building new competencies for new business creation based on breakthrough technological innovations," Working Papers 03.17, Eindhoven Center for Innovation Studies.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Hyunmin, 2023. "Converging technology to improve firm innovation competencies and business performance: Evidence from smart manufacturing technologies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    2. Dharmesh Gupta & Ruchita Gupta & Karuna Jain & Kirankumar S. Momaya, 2017. "Innovations in Mobile Value-Added Services: Findings from Cases in India," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(06), pages 1-27, December.
    3. Changyong Lee & Suckwon Hong & Juram Kim, 2021. "Anticipating multi-technology convergence: a machine learning approach using patent information," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(3), pages 1867-1896, March.
    4. Sick, Nathalie & Preschitschek, Nina & Leker, Jens & Bröring, Stefanie, 2019. "A new framework to assess industry convergence in high technology environments," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 84, pages 48-58.
    5. Afris Widya-Hasuti & Abbas Mardani & Dalia Streimikiene & Ali Sharifara & Fausto Cavallaro, 2018. "The Role of Process Innovation between Firm-Specific Capabilities and Sustainable Innovation in SMEs: Empirical Evidence from Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-26, June.
    6. Sick, Nathalie & Bröring, Stefanie, 2022. "Exploring the research landscape of convergence from a TIM perspective: A review and research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    7. Nylund, Petra A. & Brem, Alexander & Agarwal, Nivedita, 2022. "Enabling technologies mitigating climate change: The role of dominant designs in environmental innovation ecosystems," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    8. Na Zhang & Xiangxiang Zhang & Peng Li, 2020. "The Temporal and Spatial Differentiation Characteristics of Three Industry Convergence Development in Deeply Impoverished Areas in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, January.
    9. Senthil Kumar Muthusamy & Ramadevi Kannan, 2023. "Profits crisis: evolving patterns of firm size and performance in traditional U.S. industries," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(3), pages 575-603, September.

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