Title: The mechanism of the late mover advantage in mid-product for the electronics industry: a case study on CRT

Authors: Hiroyuki Nagano; Shuichi Ishida; Kiminori Gemba

Addresses: Department of Management of Industry and Technology, Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan ' Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan ' Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan

Abstract: There have been many cases where late movers from countries other than the countries of the first movers have entered the business of mid-product in the electronics industry, and surpassed the pioneering company. This study analyses where the superiority of late movers lies. From the perspective of innovation dynamics, product innovation and process innovation are end-stage occurrences, while the establishment of dominant design and dominant process is a condition of late mover advantage. Under this condition, there is low risk of change to product and process, allowing the late mover to focus on production. From the perspective of a competitive advantage of nations, lower production costs in the late mover's country than the first mover's countries are necessary. From the perspective of technology acquisition, the late mover is capable of procuring materials and production equipment.

Keywords: latecomers; first movers; mid-products; electronic device; innovation dynamics; competitive advantage; technology acquisition; Korea; Taiwan; Japan; cathode ray tubes; CRT; Brown tube; electronics; late movers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2013.055311

International Journal of Business and Systems Research, 2013 Vol.7 No.3, pp.229 - 249

Received: 18 Sep 2012
Accepted: 15 Dec 2012

Published online: 13 Dec 2013 *

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