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Technological exaptation: a narrative approach

Author

Listed:
  • Raghu Garud
  • Joel Gehman
  • Antonio Paco Giuliani

Abstract

What do the feathers on a bird have in common with the glass in fiber optics? The answer lies in exaptation, a concept that has been creatively repurposed (i.e., exapted) from evolutionary biology to the field of technological innovation. Inspired by this movement, we examine different kinds of biological exaptations and draw analogical links to different kinds of technological exaptations. Going beyond mere analogies, we consider a narrative approach to inducing technological exaptations.

Suggested Citation

  • Raghu Garud & Joel Gehman & Antonio Paco Giuliani, 2016. "Technological exaptation: a narrative approach," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 25(1), pages 149-166.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:25:y:2016:i:1:p:149-166.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/icc/dtv050
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    Cited by:

    1. Pierpaolo Andriani & Renata Kaminska, 2020. "Exploring the dynamics of novelty production through exaptation: a historical analysis of coal tar-based innovations," Post-Print halshs-03070325, HAL.
    2. Tian Heong Chan & Shi-Ying Lim, 2023. "The Emergence of Novel Product Uses: An Investigation of Exaptations in IKEA Hacks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(5), pages 2870-2892, May.
    3. Aaltonen, Päivi Hanna Maria, 2020. "Piecing together a puzzle—A review and research agenda on internationalization and the promise of exaptation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    4. Simone, Cristina & Barile, Sergio & Grandinetti, Roberto, 2021. "The emergence of new market spaces: Brokerage and firm cognitive endowment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 457-466.
    5. Arne Isaksen & Michaela Trippl & Nina Kyllingstad & Jan Ole Rypestøl, 2019. "Digital transformation of regional industries: The link between new path development, innovation system dynamics and asset modification," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_02, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    6. Beltagui, Ahmad & Rosli, Ainurul & Candi, Marina, 2020. "Exaptation in a digital innovation ecosystem: The disruptive impacts of 3D printing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    7. Andriani, Pierpaolo & Kaminska, Renata, 2021. "Exploring the dynamics of novelty production through exaptation: a historical analysis of coal tar-based innovations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(2).
    8. Arne Isaksen & Emelie Langemyr Eriksen & Jan Ole Rypestøl, 2020. "Regional industrial restructuring: Asset modification and alignment for digitalization," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 1454-1470, December.
    9. Shubha Patvardhan & J. Ramachandran, 2020. "Shaping the Future: Strategy Making as Artificial Evolution," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(3), pages 671-697, May.
    10. James, Steffan & Liu, Zheng & Stephens, Victoria & White, Gareth R.T., 2022. "Innovation in crisis: The role of ‘exaptive relations’ for medical device development in response to COVID-19," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    11. Haessler, Philipp & Giones, Ferran & Brem, Alexander, 2023. "The who and how of commercializing emerging technologies: A technology-focused review," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    12. Codini, Anna Paola & Abbate, Tindara & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2023. "Business Model Innovation and exaptation: A new way of innovating in SMEs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    13. Mathias Guérineau & Julien Kleszczowski & Julie C. Mayer, 2022. "Transforming the system to face grand challenges by experimenting with "pragmatic" utopias: the case of the "Zero Long-Term Unemployment Territories" [Transformer le système fac," Post-Print hal-04147166, HAL.
    14. Omezzine, Fakher & Bodas Freitas, Isabel Maria, 2022. "New market creation through exaptation: The role of the founding team's prior professional experience," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(5).
    15. Jesper Lindgaard Christensen & Daniel Stefan Hain & Letícia Antunes Nogueira, 2019. "Joining forces: collaboration patterns and performance of renewable energy innovators," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 793-814, April.
    16. Andreas Hein & Maximilian Schreieck & Manuel Wiesche & Markus Böhm & Helmut Krcmar, 2019. "The emergence of native multi-sided platforms and their influence on incumbents," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(4), pages 631-647, December.
    17. , Aisdl, 2019. "Resources of The Serendipity Society," OSF Preprints sb9kp, Center for Open Science.

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