Title: The shifts of technological paradigms and the evolution of firms' dynamic capabilities

Authors: Xuefeng Liu

Addresses: School of Management, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PRC

Abstract: Technological advancements are the important factors that lead to the evolution of dynamic capabilities and the shift of technological paradigms requires the relevant evolution of dynamic capabilities. In the phase of technological evolution in a specific paradigm, effective processes should be complex and sluggish, firms| assets structure should transform incrementally and firms should gently adjust their strategies in existing paths. In the shifts of technological paradigms, managerial and organisational processes should be simple and agile, the assets structure should transform radically and firms should break away from current paths and select new strategic paths. Based on a literature review of technological paradigms and dynamic capabilities, this paper proposes the theoretical framework that specifies how a firm should evolve its dynamic capabilities during the shifts of technological paradigms to match its capabilities with technological environments. Samsung, the leading corporation in the electronic consumer product industry, is taken as an example to examine the theoretical framework about the evolution of dynamic capabilities during shifts of technological paradigms. In the end, some conclusions are drawn and some practical implications are provided.

Keywords: dynamic capabilities; Samsung; technological paradigm; Samsung; electronic consumer products; technological change.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2009.028915

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2009 Vol.9 No.3, pp.209 - 221

Published online: 11 Oct 2009 *

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