Title: Strategy transformation under technological convergence: evidence from the printed electronics industry

Authors: Yongrae Cho; Euiseok Kim; Wonjoon Kim

Addresses: Division of Vice President, Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), Building B, Sejong National Research Complex 370, Sicheong-daero, Sejong-si, 339-907, Korea; Graduate School of Technology and Innovation Management, Hanyang University, Research Building, Wangsimni-ro 222, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Korea ' Korea Minting, Security Printing and ID Card Operating Corp., 80-67 Gwahangno Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-713, Korea ' Department of Business and Technology Management, Graduate School of Innovation and Technology Management, 335 Gwahangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Korea

Abstract: Radical technological innovations have transformed competition in high-tech markets. One result of innovation is technological convergence, whereby different technologies are integrated and businesses become more complex, thus blurring industry boundaries. We examine the evolution of firms' strategic positions under technological convergence. Specifically, we analyse the printed electronics industry using patent-centric network indexes and reveal technological intensity using firm-based networks of patent citations. We labelled firms that own core-functional (ink) technology core functional leaders in the patent network of the printed electronics industry. Additionally, we labelled firms that own control-related (device) technology technology integrators and those involved in application-related (electronics) technology application pioneers. Furthermore, we constructed a strategic quadrant framework that categorises firms according to their strategic positioning and evolutionary patterns. We also identified the idiosyncratic patterns of firms' strategic behaviours in each dimension in relation to industrial leadership and regime changes in technological convergence.

Keywords: dynamic evolution; evolutionary patterns; firm evolution; network analysis; patents; patent citation analysis; printed electronics industry; strategic positioning; technological convergence; technological leadership; United States Patent and Trademark Office; USPTO; technological innovation; radical innovation; technological intensity; firm-based networks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2015.068222

International Journal of Technology Management, 2015 Vol.67 No.2/3/4, pp.106 - 131

Accepted: 21 Oct 2014
Published online: 29 Apr 2015 *

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