The paradox of standard flexibility: The effects of co-evolution between standard and interorganizational network

Journal Article (2012)
Author(s)

J van den Ende (External organisation)

G Van De Kaa (TU Delft - Technology, Strategy and Entrepreneurship)

S den Uijl (External organisation)

H.J. de Vries (External organisation)

Research Group
Technology, Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Copyright
© 2012 J van den Ende, G. van de Kaa, S den Uijl, H.J. de Vries
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840612443625
More Info
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Publication Year
2012
Language
English
Copyright
© 2012 J van den Ende, G. van de Kaa, S den Uijl, H.J. de Vries
Research Group
Technology, Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Bibliographical Note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.@en
Issue number
5-6
Volume number
33
Pages (from-to)
705-736
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Abstract

The literature has dedicated significant attention to the effects of standard-supporting, interorganizational networks on the content of standards and standard survival. However, minimal attention has been paid to the effects of the standard’s characteristics and dynamics on these networks. This paper contributes to closing this gap. We introduce the paradoxical concept of ‘standard flexibility’ and study the interaction between the characteristics of a standard-supporting network and the development of the standard itself, including the effect of the interaction on standard success. More specifically, we show how a standard’s flexibility can serve to attract new network members, facilitating growth and diversity of the network, which in turn has implications for further adaptations of the standard. We study this co-evolutionary process in three standards battles: Blu-ray versus HD-DVD, USB versus Firewire, and WiFi versus HomeRF. Our findings suggest that those participating in standardization can persuade non-participating stakeholders to join by allowing for changes in the standard. In turn, the existing members can expect that the new members will request further changes. The cases suggest that early timing of the co-evolutionary process enhances the chances of standard success. We also explore the emergence of path dependencies in the process and the forces that restrict the co-evolutionary process over time. For managers, our findings indicate that changes in standards should not be considered undesirable, but as opportunities that may strengthen the interorganizational network and contribute to a standard’s success.

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