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The Effects of Knowledge Versus Production Boundaries on Firm Survival through Systemic Technological Change

Woroniecki, Jean (2013) The Effects of Knowledge Versus Production Boundaries on Firm Survival through Systemic Technological Change. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Firms that develop complex products are at greater risk from systemic technological change, which alters the way product components work together, and can also affect the nature of demand for a product. We ask what combinations of knowledge and production boundaries best position firms that make complex products to survive systemic change. Some work suggests that vertical integration might improve survival but other research posits that maintaining broad knowledge boundaries could be sufficient, as it enables efficiency through outsourcing yet retains effectiveness in integrating component technologies. We propose that the answer depends on whether we focus on technological or market boundaries, and that while in general broad boundaries favor adaptation to systemic change, integrating downstream from manufacturing can hinder adaptation. In addition, we argue that integration into the manufacture of components may be more critical than is suggested in prior work. Our longitudinal study of systemic change in the hard disk drive industry provides preliminary support for these predictions.

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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Woroniecki, Jeanjlw119@pitt.eduJLW119
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairCohen, Susan Ksuecohen@katz.pitt.eduSUECOHEN
Committee MemberPil, Frits K.fritspil@pitt.eduFRITSPIL
Committee MemberMadhavan, Ravindranathrmadhavan@katz.pitt.eduRAM115
Committee MemberKryder, Markkryder@ece.cmu.edu
Committee MemberWalter, Jorgejorgew@gwu.edu
Date: 30 September 2013
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 22 April 2013
Approval Date: 30 September 2013
Submission Date: 25 August 2013
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 139
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business > Business Administration
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: knowledge boundaries, production boundaries, technological change
Date Deposited: 30 Sep 2013 20:18
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 14:15
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19725

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