A theory of the evolution of technology: Technological parasitism and the implications for innovation magement

• Published in: Journal of engineering and technology management Vol. 55; p. 101552
• Main Authors: Coccia, Mario, Watts, Joshua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2020; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Adaptive systems; Bicycles; Business competition; Co-Evolution of technologies; Competitive advantage; Complex system; Complex systems; Design architecture; Evolution; Evolution of technology; Host technology; Innovation management; Innovations; Interactive systems; Macroevolution; Markets; Master technology; Modularity; Mutant technologies; Nature of technology; Parasites; Product architecture; Product design; Product innovation management; Symbiosis; Technological change; Technological development; Technological evolution; Technological innovation; Technological parasitism; Technological symbiosis; Technology; Technology management; Theory; Co-Evolution of technologies; Mutant technologies; Complex system; Technological parasitism; Modularity; Technological evolution; Master technology; Technology management; Product innovation management; B50; Host technology; Design architecture; Technological innovation; Evolution of technology; Technological development; Product design; M11; O30; O33; O32; Nature of technology; Technological symbiosis; Technological change; Innovation management; Competitive advantage; Product architecture
• ISSN: 0923-4748; 1879-1719
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jengtecman.2019.11.003

Symmetric matrix of the relationships between technologies and predicted evolutionary pathways followed in two-technologies-interactive systems in response to natural selection in markets for minimization of negative effects from parasitism (starting state) to symbiosis (final state). Note. The notions of positive, negative and neutral benefit to technologies Ti and Tj from interaction in a system S are represented with following symbols of logic: +, −, 0 (zero); + + is a strong positive benefit to technologies Ti and Tj in S from long-run mutual-symbiotic interaction (i.e., coevolution of Ti and Tj in S, ∀i = 1,…,n; ∀j = 1,…,m). The interaction of technological systems generates: competition (−, −), amensalism (0, −), parasitism and predation (+, −), commensalism (+, 0), mutualism (+,+) and symbiosis (++,++). Continuous arrows indicate the most probable evolutionary trajectories of interactive technologies in which parasitic technologies reduce the impact on host (or master) technology, becoming commensal, mutualist and then symbiotic in the long run. Dotted arrows show alternative evolutionary pathways of interactive technologies. Both evolutionary pathways of technology converge towards a state of technological symbiosis in the long run [Display omitted] •Theory of technological parasitism explains relationships between technologies underlying the evolution of complex systems of technology.•Host or master technologies with many inter-related parasitic technologies advance rapidly.•Host or master technologies with fewer parasitic technologies improve slowly.•Technological parasitism suggests a new direction for explaining the evolution of technology and designing innovation strategies.•Technological parasitism explains parasite-host relationships between technologies that foster long-run coevolution of technologies in complex systems. How do technologies develop? This study proposes the theory of technological parasitism that is based on the idea that parasite-host relationships between technologies and technologies with a high number of technological parasites have an accelerated evolution driven by long-run mutualistic symbioses, providing the basis for extensive macroevolution and adaptive behavior of systems of interactive technologies in markets. This theory may be useful for bringing a new perspective to explain and generalize the evolution of technology directed to sustain competitive advantage of firms and nations. In particular, technological parasitism explains the relationship of mutualistic symbiosis between a host (or master) technology and inter-related technologies to satisfy needs and/or to solve consequential problems of socioeconomic subjects over time. To explore the potential of adopting a theory of technological parasitism and to predict which technologies are likeliest to evolve rapidly, this study implements a theoretical test based on a computational agent-based model developed from these concepts and a empirical test based on historical data on the evolution of four example technologies (aircraft, tractor, locomotive and bicycle technology). Computational and empirical evidence are broadly consistent with the theoretical expectation that host (or master) technologies with many associated parasitic technologies advance rapidly, whereas master technologies with fewer parasitic technologies improve slowly. The proposed theory has a demonstrated capacity to explain relationships between technologies in complex systems that clarify the driving forces of the evolution of technology in markets. The finding of this study could aid management of firms and innovation strategy of nations to implement best practices of product/process design and development for supporting R&D of technologies that are likely to evolve rapidly, sustaining and safeguarding competitive advantage. Overall, then, this study, for the first time to our knowledge, begins the process of clarifying and generalizing, as far as possible, the role of long-run coevolution between host and parasitic technologies in complex systems, suggesting fruitful implications for innovation management. markets. This conceptual scheme here is especially relevant in Schumpeterian markets with innovation-based competition to explain a major source of technological evolution and success, the parasite-host relationships between technologies. Finally, this theory here suggests a new direction for the development of more sophisticated concepts and theoretical frameworks to explain technological and industrial change in economic systems.