Path Dependence, Agency and Technological Evolution

Araújo, Luís; Harrison, Debbie

doi:10.1080/09537320220125856

Cited by 86 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The unitary path concept implies that path dependent development can either lead to an inevitable lock-in (Vergne and Durand, 2010), or allow for the creation of new paths that replace old ones (cf. Araujo and Harrison, 2002;Garud et al, 2010). In neither of these cases is there any continuity between old and new paths.…”

Section: Conclusion and Suggestions For Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…through technological diversification (cf. Fai and von Tunzelmann, 2001;Araujo and Harrison, 2002;Antonelli, 2009;Garud et al, 2010). Actors iterate past patterns of thought and action, but they are also able to generate future scenarios and evaluate alternative trajectories in response to changing demands and opportunities (Araujo and Harrison, 2002).…”

Section: Multiple Vs Unitary Progressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, some articles mention the existence of 7 bifurcation points or junctures, when alternative future paths appear, which can be interpreted as opportunities for divergent progression (cf., e.g., Araujo and Harrison, 2002). However, most of this literature still adheres to the notion of lock-in and therefore argues that path dependency essentially prevents actors from going down emerging technological paths (Aminzade, 1992;Araujo and Harrison, 2002); lock-in implies that actors lose their ability to adapt to changes and cannot move to other alternatives even if they would prefer to do so (Garud et al, 2010;Vergne and Durand, 2010). This implies that new paths tend to originate from outside existing industries and that industry incumbents can be severely challenged when new technological paths emerge (cf.…”

Section: Multiple Vs Unitary Progressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, this concept has been used to explain the process of cumulative, sequential technological development characterized by persistence (Fai, 2003;Cantwell and Vertova, 2004) and self-reinforcing mechanisms (Araujo and Harrison, 2002;Garud et al, 2010). Apart from literature on economics of technology and innovation, the path dependency concept in its broader form has also been applied in historical sociology and economic geography.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Bergek

Onufrey

2013

Industrial and Corporate Change

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In order to explain the development of multi-technology companies and industries where several alternative technologies co-exist and interact over long time periods, this paper suggests an extension of path dependency theory by providing a conceptualization of the path notion which incorporates the theoretical possibility of multiple paths and path interaction. The conceptualization is applied to a patent study of three leading companies in the lighting industry: General Electric, Osram/Siemens and Philips. The study shows technology development patterns that are characterized by strong persistence, both within each path and across the whole technology field. These results demonstrate that multiple technological paths can co-exist in companies and industries, characterized by simultaneous long-term presence of several technologies. In such cases, path interaction takes place both between co-existing paths and when new, radically different paths are created. Although further studies are needed to identify the underlying self-reinforcing mechanisms, there is a clear indication that technological path dependency is not restricted to unitary progression patterns, as implied by previous conceptualizations.

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Section: Conclusion and Suggestions For Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Multiple Vs Unitary Progressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Multiple Vs Unitary Progressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Bergek

Onufrey

2013

Industrial and Corporate Change

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“…The nature of the situation, of the resource heterogeneity in the present, is important in creating opportunities for joined resources (Ahuja, 2000). The pathways of technological change and their expected outcomes all lead to types of path dependence that link firms together in networks that flow through time (Araujo and Harrison, 2002). Time and timing become important in this changed theoretical view of the business world (Hedaa and Törnroos, 2002).…”

Section: Evolutionary Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Peter Drucker's ontology: understanding business relationships and networks

Medlin

2012

Journal of Business &Amp; Industrial Marketing

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Purpose: The paper considers the underlying premises of Peter Drucker's managerial writing and focuses on three main aspects: humans and relations, an evolutionary perspective and a pragmatic perspective. These ontological views are taken to a new level and applied to explore the world of networked firms.Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper is a conceptual contribution based on a literature study by the author.Findings: An examination of Drucker's ontology shows how his world perspective led him to an understanding of managers and organizations. The three elements of his ontology discussed are applied to research in business networks. Research implications:Argues for research on human perspectives of business relationships and networks; particularly of issues such as time, timing, partner integration, relational and network embeddedness, network sensing, network horizons, and network identity. Practical implications:Drucker's ontological view enabled him to make pronouncements that cut through to the truth of reality in our organizationally shaped world. Understanding Drucker's ontology provides managers with ways to deepen their understanding of an individual's role at every level within an organization. Originality/Value of paper:The linking of Drucker's ontology to research on new ways to organize and manage networked firms opens areas of future research.

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With a little help from a stranger: The impact of external change agents on corporate sustainability investments

2018

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We investigate the role external change agents (e.g., consultants), play in stimulating corporate sustainability investments. Using data on more than 5,300 energy efficiency investment decisions by 462 firms, we find that firms that draw more strongly on external change agents seize significantly more sustainable investment opportunities. We show that external change agents are more effective in stimulating investments if they broadly search for investment opportunities and are more strongly involved in the implementation of change initiatives. Moreover, surprisingly, we do not find that using internal change agents in parallel with external agents enhances the effectiveness of external change agents. Our findings have important implications for the literature on corporate sustainability as they point to external change agents as an important means of steering firms onto more sustainable pathways. Additionally, we shed light on the conditions under which external change agents can be used to most effectively overcome organizational path dependencies.

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Path Dependence, Agency and Technological Evolution

Cited by 86 publications

References 19 publications

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Peter Drucker's ontology: understanding business relationships and networks

With a little help from a stranger: The impact of external change agents on corporate sustainability investments

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