The need for complementary approaches

Fred Steward

A broad & inclusive concept of transition

A systemic view of innovation in terms of a diversity of actors and the embrace of both social and technological change

A definition of technology in relation to some definition of societal use or ‘function’

A concept of significant change in the sense of a clearly defined shift from one state to a new state

Sustainability goals

Alternative theorisations of the dynamics of transition

Multilevel perspective regime & niche Technology innovation system new technology system

Share an evolutionary framework And others?

Explaining variation & selection

MLP Nested hierarchy Interaction between levels

TIS Emergent properties System attributes

Inviting wider participation Two strands in science, technology

& innovation studies that are underrepresented

Actor networks – Latour ‘flat network’ associational approach

Innovation management – interactional agency based strategies

Situating technology systems 1 The Freeman legacy - New technology

systems 1982 - unemployment & technical innovation

Alternative theory to socially induced clusters of innovation (Mensch)

Role of scientific discovery Technical & social constellations Natural technology trajectories –

mechanisation, electrification, automation

Situating technology systems 2

Freeman & Perez 1988

Incremental Radical Technology System – pervasive across

sectors, radical/incremental technology + organisational/managerial

Techno-economic paradigm

Applicability to sustainability transitions

1996 Greening of technology - Freeman

problems with…systemic model of innovation

world wide transition to a "green technoeconomic paradigm“

Learning from the linear model

Limits to a technology focus

The current policy context

Generic technologies

Tony Blair - November 2004

‘we need a green technological revolution’

George Bush – 20 April 2006

the technological revolution that we're pushing hard… so that we can be good stewards of the environment.

Wen Jiabao October 2005

A global revolution in science and technology…

Building an environment friendly society & sustainable development

The new revolutionary technological determinism

Emerging bio & nano technologies will deliver radical sustainability

Key policy issue is research investment in new emerging technologies

The knowledge economy/ sustainable society virtuous circle

Relies on technology push model

Ecological modernisation Emerging

technologies are more sustainable

Upstream support is main policy concern

Consumption downplayed

An alternative innovation focus

The sociotechnical Production and consumption

Reflexive action vs system design

Actor orientation

Reflexive action vs system design

Heterogeneous engineer, system builder, path creator

Innovative entrepreneur, innovation journey

Organisational actors in transitions

Niche actors (Kemp, Geels)

Path creators (Garud & Karnoe)

Disruptive innovators (Christensen)

Business research on organisation & strategy

Beyond the ‘iron cage’ or ‘rational actor’

Strategic choice (Child) Emergent strategy (Mintzberg) Sensemaking (Weick) Communities of practice (Wenger)

Innovation & the business organisation

Intersection of:

Organisation studies – Burns & Stalker, Lawrence & Lorsch - focus on firm, organic structure

Science & technology studies - Freeman, Marquis – focus on innovation, the interactive model

The new interactionism

Paradox & dilemma – Peters, Kanter

Networks – Allen, Granovetter

Construction & association – Pinch, Latour

The power of communicative action

Embracing cognitive diversity Combining different cognitive perspectives

Prefigured path (life cycle) Purposeful enactment (teleology) Conflict and synthesis (dialectics) Competitive selection (evolution)

Van de Ven

The ambidextrous organisation

Tushman, Leonard Barton, Christensen

The innovator’s dilemma Exploitation vs exploration Continuity vs change Capabilities vs rigidities

Networks – relational capabilities

Network as general process Strong & weak ties Homophily & heterophily Boundary spanners & gatekeepers Network builders

The power of discourse

Storylines, narratives, arguments

Explain strategic choice within firms and their capacity to shape futures

Emerging innovation networks

Techno vs eco focus

Incumbents & emergents Different consequences for variety

generation No natural trajectories of

dematerialisation, decarbonisation

An example Contrast between emerging networks

around sustainability of print on paper Forestry GM trees / community forestry Paper manufacture Nanoparticles / deinking fibre recovery Publishing E-book / paperless practices

A situated emergent network approach Focus on sustainability claims for

specific innovations within emerging generic technologies

Capture innovations emerging in the market and identify commercial performance claims

Map the emerging sociotechnical network and its dynamics

Use results for reflexive engagement

Nanoparticle network

Results It seems possible to capture early

emergent networks by following the actors

Focus is defined by actors and varies in emphasis on technology and ecology

Variety generation gives different emphasis to sustainability

Influence through key actors