A case study of knowledge protection and diffusion for innovation: managing knowledge in the mobile telephone industry
by Peter Galvin, John Rice
International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM), Vol. 42, No. 4, 2008

Abstract: The standardisation of interfaces in product architectures helps complementary products develop when network externalities are present. However, standardisation may also weaken a technology developer's competitive position when the product knowledge embedded in standardised interfaces becomes accessible, thereby reducing the barriers to entry. Hence, there is a need to simultaneously protect the knowledge that underpins a firm's competitiveness, but also to define the standards that are open to encourage the development of complementary products. In this paper, we analyse different types and levels of knowledge that underpin a product. We apply this analysis to understanding how Nokia and Ericsson maintained their competitive positions during the Global System for Mobile (GSM)-dominated phase of the industry, even though they were instrumental in developing GSM as an entirely open standard.

Online publication date: Thu, 10-Jul-2008

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