“ The effect of innovation via the combining of technologies on the process of development and diffusion ” By: Thijs Jonckheere October 2015 Technological Confluence The effect of innovation via the combining of technologies on the process of development and diffusion MASTER OF SCIENCE THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY, POLICY AND MANAGEMENT THIJS FRANCISCUS MARIA JONCKHEERE 12 OCTOBER 2015 Graduation committee: Chairman: Prof.dr. C.P. (Cees) van Beers Professor; Head of Section Technology, Strategy & Entrepreneurship Supervisors: Dr. J.R. (Roland) Ortt Associate professor; Section Technology, Strategy & Entrepreneurship Dr. M.L.C. (Mark) de Bruijne Assistant professor; Section Policy, Organization, Law and Gaming Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Academic relevance .............................................................................................................. 3 1.1.2. Practical relevance ................................................................................................................. 4 1.2. Application domain ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3. Research methodology ................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.1. Systematic literature review, meta-synthesis, theory development ....................................... 5 1.3.2. Embedded multi-case study design ....................................................................................... 5 1.3.3. Experiment ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.4. Outline of the work ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.5. References ...................................................................................................................................... 8 2. Paper 1: Technology fusion, Technological convergence, Technology integration, and Cross-sectoral innovation: Solitary or Complementary? 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2.2. Research methodology ................................................................................................................... 3 2.2.1. Unit of Analysis .................................................................................................................... 3 2.2.1.1. Essential technologies ................................................................................................. 3 2.2.2. Acquiring literature ............................................................................................................... 5 2.2.3. Acquiring data and criteria for selection ............................................................................... 7 2.3. Literature review ............................................................................................................................ 8 2.3.1. Technology Fusion ................................................................................................................ 8 2.3.2. Technological Convergence .................................................................................................. 9 2.3.3. Technology Integration ......................................................................................................... 11 2.4. Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.1. Scoping the terms .................................................................................................................. 12 2.4.2. Contrasting and comparing the terms .................................................................................... 12 2.4.3. Defining Technological confluence ...................................................................................... 15 2.4.4. Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 16 2.5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 16 2.6. References ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Appendix A: Overview of the literature used, their respective term, definition, and cases used ............ 20 Appendix B: Cross-reference network map ............................................................................................ 22 3. Paper 2: Types of Technological Confluence 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 3.2. Research methodology ................................................................................................................... 4 3.2.1. Process of constructing the timeline ...................................................................................... 7 3.2.2. Intersubjective experiment sample ........................................................................................ 8 3.3. Case information ............................................................................................................................ 8 3.4. Cross-case analysis ........................................................................................................................ 9 3.4.1. Duration of the innovation and adaptation phases ................................................................. 9 3.4.2. Cognitive proximity and method of acquiring knowledge .................................................... 11 3.4.2.1. Filling the knowledge gap ........................................................................................... 12 3.4.3. Interrelatedness of the essential technologies ........................................................................ 14 3.4.3.1. Processes occurring after the innovation phase ........................................................... 14 3.4.4. Enablers for adding technology versus replacing technology ............................................... 16 3.5. Distinguishing types of technological confluence ......................................................................... 17 3.5.1. Guidelines to using the model ............................................................................................... 19 3.6. Discussion and conclusion ............................................................................................................. 20 3.7. References ...................................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A: Example case study report of the smart TV ...................................................................... 27 Appendix B: Duration of the Innovation and Market adaptation phase of the cases .............................. 31 Appendix C: List of acronyms for the functions of a PC ....................................................................... 32 Appendix D: Technological confluence case processes ......................................................................... 33 4. Conclusion, Discussion, Reflection 4.1. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 1 4.2. Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2.1. Interplay of variables shaping development and diffusion ..................................................... 10 4.2.2. Relating to other literature ...................................................................................................... 11 4.2.3. Limitations ............................................................................................................................. 12 4.2.4. Further research ...................................................................................................................... 12 4.3. Reflection ....................................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.1. Judging the quality of research .............................................................................................. 15 4.3.2. Personal reflection ................................................................................................................. 17 4.4. References ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Appendix 1: Raw case study information Appendix 2: Model Types of Technological Confluence Never published by Hippo in the Water 1. Introduction The fast pace of current technological change in most industries asks for a different approach to innovation, because it is hard for any given company or policymaker to possess all of the