Competence building in electric mobility: solving the paradox of specific investments in nascent industries Online publication date: Thu, 28-Nov-2013
by Martin Gersch; Tilman Rüsike; Florian Reichle
International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management (IJATM), Vol. 13, No. 3, 2013
Abstract: Due to their high degree of uncertainty, nascent industries are of increasing interest in strategic management science. Drawing on the concept of specificity, we analyse the building of resources and competences in the emerging industry of electric mobility. In a qualitative multiple case study on two major car manufacturers and their investments, we show how firms handle the paradox of specific investments. Our results indicate that specificity depends upon strategic management. By varying the degree of specificity, firms can balance the resulting commitment in nascent markets and remain flexible. From a co-evolutionary perspective, firms are driving and are driven by these specific investments. Hence, they continuously engage in creating and securing deployment options for existing resources and competences by (de-)specification strategies but also by trying to shape the firm's environment.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management (IJATM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com