Building ‘mass’ and ‘momentum’ – a latecomer country’s passage to large technological systems – the case of China

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on how a latecomer country can bring a large (infrastructural) technological system (LTS) to a market already dominated by the entrenched systems of global technology leaders. We construct a conceptual framework, building on Hughes LTS theory (1983) and insights from social studies of technology into the specificities of infrastructural sociotechnical systems to analyse the development of China’s 3rd Generation mobile telephony system. We explore the complex dynamics surrounding the distributed governance of innovation, highlighting changes in key system builders. We note the role of the state in addressing critical problems (‘reverse salients’), both in terms of aligning players through legitimating and sense-making and also, building the necessary mass and momentum. This includes a more radical reconfiguring of the field to secure the substantial commitments needed to materialise and embed a new LTS infrastructure.

KEYWORDS:

• Large technological systems/infrastructures
• latecomer country
• mass and momentum
• China
• role of the state
• distributed governance of innovation

Notes on contributor

Xiaobai Shen: Senior lecturer in the University of Edinburgh Business School. Her academic background falls in Science & Technology and Innovation Studies, and her previous work includes socio-technical analysis of technological capabilities in ICT and biotechnology sector, from a developing country perspective. Her current research interests are more concentrating on the innovation of public goods (such as, creative cultural contents, open source software, infrastructural ICT, agricultural biotechnology), and the role of Intellectual Property protection regime, Standards, and government policies and regulations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. See “What’s the Difference Between FDD and TDD?” ElectronicDesign, 30 June 2012. http://www.electronicdesign.com/communications/what-s-difference-between-fdd-and-tdd.

2. A discussion with the ZTE delegate taking part in the panel discussion in China-EU ICT standards workshop (Beijing 20 April 2009).

3. Telephone interview with Prof. Wu, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and a renowned strategist for national telecommunications and information systems (April 2009).

4. TDIA had 50 members then, according to Chinese Telecommunication Network 114, http://www.c114.com.cn/news/22/c5355.html, last accessed on 10 May 2018.

5. Pressure for stronger state intervention grew where entrenched global innovation systems and value chains were seen as unfavourable for Chinese players.