Technological paradigms and complex technical systems-The case of Smart Homes

Alexander Peine

doi:10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.009

Technological paradigms and complex technical systems-The case of Smart Homes

Alexander Peine^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of technological paradigms in the context of complex technical systems. It presents a review of Thomas Kuhn's notion of scientific paradigms and their early adoption as technological paradigms. This review reveals that an important feature of scientific paradigms has not been fully utilized in the analysis of technological change—the distinction between a paradigm as an exemplar and as a shared group commitment. Using the case of Smart Homes, I advocate that this distinction is critical in understanding the dynamics of open technical systems where multiple industries jointly shape innovation. I discuss the implications with regard to both the concept of technological paradigms and innovation of complex technical systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	508-529
Number of pages	22
Journal	Research Policy
Volume	37
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.009
Publication status	Published - Apr 2008
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Complex technical systems
Epistemic styles
Smart Homes
Technological paradigms

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10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.009

Cite this

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title = "Technological paradigms and complex technical systems-The case of Smart Homes",

abstract = "This paper explores the concept of technological paradigms in the context of complex technical systems. It presents a review of Thomas Kuhn's notion of scientific paradigms and their early adoption as technological paradigms. This review reveals that an important feature of scientific paradigms has not been fully utilized in the analysis of technological change—the distinction between a paradigm as an exemplar and as a shared group commitment. Using the case of Smart Homes, I advocate that this distinction is critical in understanding the dynamics of open technical systems where multiple industries jointly shape innovation. I discuss the implications with regard to both the concept of technological paradigms and innovation of complex technical systems.",

keywords = "Complex technical systems, Epistemic styles, Smart Homes, Technological paradigms",

author = "Alexander Peine",

note = "Funding Information: I would like to thank Rikard Stankiewicz, Werner Rammert, Hans Georg Gem{\"u}nden and two anonymous referees for very helpful comments on earlier versions of this paper. All remaining errors are mine. Financial support is gratefully acknowledged from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Max Weber Programme of the European University Institute in Florence. Figure 2 is modified and reproduced from Peine (2006a) with the kind permission of transcript-Verlag in Bielefeld. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40649093767&partnerID=8YFLogxK",

year = "2008",

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doi = "10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.009",

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AU - Peine, Alexander

N1 - Funding Information: I would like to thank Rikard Stankiewicz, Werner Rammert, Hans Georg Gemünden and two anonymous referees for very helpful comments on earlier versions of this paper. All remaining errors are mine. Financial support is gratefully acknowledged from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Max Weber Programme of the European University Institute in Florence. Figure 2 is modified and reproduced from Peine (2006a) with the kind permission of transcript-Verlag in Bielefeld. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40649093767&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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N2 - This paper explores the concept of technological paradigms in the context of complex technical systems. It presents a review of Thomas Kuhn's notion of scientific paradigms and their early adoption as technological paradigms. This review reveals that an important feature of scientific paradigms has not been fully utilized in the analysis of technological change—the distinction between a paradigm as an exemplar and as a shared group commitment. Using the case of Smart Homes, I advocate that this distinction is critical in understanding the dynamics of open technical systems where multiple industries jointly shape innovation. I discuss the implications with regard to both the concept of technological paradigms and innovation of complex technical systems.

AB - This paper explores the concept of technological paradigms in the context of complex technical systems. It presents a review of Thomas Kuhn's notion of scientific paradigms and their early adoption as technological paradigms. This review reveals that an important feature of scientific paradigms has not been fully utilized in the analysis of technological change—the distinction between a paradigm as an exemplar and as a shared group commitment. Using the case of Smart Homes, I advocate that this distinction is critical in understanding the dynamics of open technical systems where multiple industries jointly shape innovation. I discuss the implications with regard to both the concept of technological paradigms and innovation of complex technical systems.

KW - Complex technical systems

KW - Epistemic styles

KW - Smart Homes

KW - Technological paradigms

U2 - 10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.009

DO - 10.1016/j.respol.2007.11.009

M3 - Article

SN - 0048-7333

VL - 37

SP - 508

EP - 529

JO - Research Policy

JF - Research Policy

IS - 3

ER -

Technological paradigms and complex technical systems-The case of Smart Homes

Abstract

Keywords

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