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The Role of Virtual Design Tools on Knowledge Replication and Recombination: An Empirical Investigation

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Author Info
Antonino Vaccaro (Instituto Superior Técnico of Lisbon, Portugal and Department of Engineering and Public Policy Carnegie Mellon University, USA.)
Stefano Brusoni (CESPRI & CRORA, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.)
Francisco Veloso (Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, USA and Universidade Católica Portuguesa – FCEE, Portugual.)

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the contribution of Virtual Design Tools (VDTs) to the processes of knowledge replication and recombination in the context of product innovation. On the basis of an in depth case study of two automotive firms engaged in two comparable new product development projects, we show that knowledge replication can occur in two distinct ways, namely through simplification and deepening of existing knowledge. By knowledge simplification we mean the selection and isolation of a specific part of the body of technological knowledge associated with the architectural functions of a multi- component system. By knowledge deepening we mean the decomposition of a knowledge packet in units of smaller dimension. We argue that the processes of knowledge simplification and knowledge deepening drive to very different innovation approaches that in turn have different competitive implications for small and large firms.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by CESPRI, Centre for Research on Innovation and Internationalisation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy in its series CESPRI Working Papers with number 198.

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Length: pages 42
Date of creation: Feb 2007
Date of revision: Feb 2007
Handle: RePEc:cri:cespri:wp198

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Related research
Keywords: Virtual Design Tools; Innovation; Modularity; Knowledge Replication; Knowledge Recombination.;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
O32 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
L62 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Automobiles; Other Transportation Equipment

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This item is featured on the following reading lists:
  1. Studies on the automobile industry
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Salter, Ammon & Gann, David, 2003. "Sources of ideas for innovation in engineering design," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1309-1324, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Becker, Markus C. & Salvatore, Pasquale & Zirpoli, Francesco, 2005. "The impact of virtual simulation tools on problem-solving and new product development organization," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1305-1321, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Bruno Dyck & Frederick A. Starke & Gary A. Mischke & Michael Mauws, 2005. "Learning to Build a Car: An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Learning," Journal of Management Studies, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 42(2), pages 387-416, 03. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Andrea Prencipe & Stefano Brusoni, 2005. "Making Design Rules: A Multi-Domain Perspective," SPRU Electronic Working Paper Series 136, University of Sussex, SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
  5. Ulrich, Karl, 1995. "The role of product architecture in the manufacturing firm," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 419-440, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Arora, Ashish & Gambardella, Alfonso, 1994. "The changing technology of technological change: general and abstract knowledge and the division of innovative labour," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 23(5), pages 523-532, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Argote, Linda & Ingram, Paul, 2000. "Knowledge Transfer: A Basis for Competitive Advantage in Firms," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 150-169, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Baba, Yasunori & Nobeoka, Kentaro, 1998. "Towards knowledge-based product development: the 3-D CAD model of knowledge creation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 643-659, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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