Title: Complex standards and innovation in the digital economy: the Internet Protocol

Authors: Gregory Tassey, Michael P. Gallaher, Brent R. Rowe

Addresses: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Mail Stop 1060, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. ' Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA. ' Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA

Abstract: As Web-based services evolve from a medium for data exchange to a system for managing geographically-dispersed work flows, the complexity of the supporting infrastructure is increasing along with the sophistication of the actual services. This paper presents a case study of the global transition to IPv6 to illustrate the importance of a standards infrastructure in the evolution of internet-based services across the global economy and the consequent strategic and policy issues facing industry and government. Industry cost data are presented and a model is proposed to explicitly represent the role of standards in the innovation process and illuminate private sector investment risks.

Keywords: standards infrastructure; innovation; information technology; internet; technology life cycle; corporate strategy; public policy; IPv6; internet protocol; transition costs; IT services; web services; investment risks; private sector investment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2009.026689

International Journal of Technology Management, 2009 Vol.48 No.4, pp.448 - 472

Published online: 23 Jun 2009 *

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