IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/oup/indcch/v23y2014i5p1261-1297..html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Bergek
  • Ksenia Onufrey

Abstract

To explain the development of multi-technology companies and industries where several alternative technologies co-exist and interact over long periods, this article suggests an extension of path dependency theory by providing a conceptualization of the path notion that incorporates the theoretical possibility of multiple paths and path interaction. The conceptualization is applied to a patent study of three leading companies in the lighting industry: General Electric, Osram/Siemens, and Philips. The study shows technology development patterns that are characterized by strong persistence, both within each path and across the whole technology field. These results demonstrate that multiple technological paths can co-exist in companies and industries, characterized by simultaneous long-term presence of several technologies. In such cases, path interaction takes place both between co-existing paths and when new, radically different paths are created. Although further studies are needed to identify the underlying self-reinforcing mechanisms, there is a clear indication that technological path dependency is not restricted to unitary progression patterns, as implied by previous conceptualizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Bergek & Ksenia Onufrey, 2014. "Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 23(5), pages 1261-1297.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:23:y:2014:i:5:p:1261-1297.
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/icc/dtt040
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Polzin, Friedemann & von Flotow, Paschen & Nolden, Colin, 2016. "What encourages local authorities to engage with energy performance contracting for retrofitting? Evidence from German municipalities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 317-330.
    2. Zhang, Wei & Zhang, Ting & Li, Hangyu & Zhang, Han, 2022. "Dynamic spillover capacity of R&D and digital investments in China's manufacturing industry under long-term technological progress based on the industry chain perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Polzin, Friedemann, 2017. "Mobilizing private finance for low-carbon innovation – A systematic review of barriers and solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 525-535.
    4. Friedemann Polzin & Paschen von Flotow & Colin Nolden, 2015. "Exploring the Role of Servitization to Overcome Barriers for Innovative Energy Efficiency Technologies – The Case of Public LED Street Lighting in German Municipalities," SPRU Working Paper Series 2015-07, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    5. Jens Hanson & Markus Steen & Tyson Weaver & Håkon E. Normann & Gard H. Hansen, 2016. "Path creation through branching and transfer of complementary resources: the role of established industries for new renewable energy technologies," Working Papers on Innovation Studies 20160310, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo.
    6. Lähteenmäki, Jarno, 2021. "The evolution paths of neutral host businesses: Antecedents, strategies, and business models," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(10).
    7. Steen, Markus & Weaver, Tyson, 2017. "Incumbents’ diversification and cross-sectorial energy industry dynamics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(6), pages 1071-1086.
    8. Li, Daitian & Malerba, Franco, 2024. "Technological change and the evolution of the links across sectoral systems: The case of mobile communications," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    9. Teng, Yuanyang & Zheng, Jianzhuang & Li, Yicun & Wu, Dong, 2024. "Optimizing digital transformation paths for industrial clusters: Insights from a simulation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    10. Laurence Cloutier & Karim Messeghem, 2022. "Whirlwind model of entrepreneurial ecosystem path dependence," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 611-625, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:23:y:2014:i:5:p:1261-1297.. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Oxford University Press (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://academic.oup.com/icc .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.