Shadows of the past: path dependence of TV on its sub-systems, complements and substitutes

ABSTRACT

In this study, two levels of path dependence in the television technological system are examined: (1) How does the development of television (TV) core components affect the development of peripheral components? and (2) How does the development of complementary and substitute technologies affect the development of television technology? Results from the empirical analysis using patents from 1975 to 2004 indicate that: (a) the development of TV periphery technologies is path-dependent on the development of TV core technologies and (b) even after controlling for its own prior history, the development of the TV system is path-dependent on the development of its complementary technologies. However, there is weak evidence of the path dependence of the TV system on the development of its substitute technologies.

KEYWORDS:

• Path dependence
• patents
• technological systems
• complements
• substitutes

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Professor Atul Nerkar and Professor Hugh O'Neill of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for their immense help with this research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Dr Mahua Guha is a faculty in the area of Strategic Management at IIM Rohtak. She has completed her doctoral degree in Strategic Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. She has presented her research papers in prestigious international conferences such as SMS Special Conference, SMS Annual Conference, and AOM Annual Conference. She has forthcoming articles in the International Journal of Applied Management Science, in the Journal of Strategy and Management and in the International Journal of Learning and Change. Prior to her PhD, Dr Guha has completed her MBA from Lancaster University, UK. For her MBA, she was awarded the prestigious British Chevening Open MBA Scholarship. In addition, Dr Guha has years of experience in IT consulting and software product development. She has worked as a systems consultant for management consulting projects. She was also a product development manager.

Notes on contributor

Dr Mahua Guha is a faculty in the area of Strategic Management at IIM Rohtak. She has completed her doctoral degree in Strategic Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. She has presented her research papers in prestigious international conferences such as SMS Special Conference, SMS Annual Conference, and AOM Annual Conference. She has forthcoming articles in the International Journal of Applied Management Science, in the Journal of Strategy and Management and in the International Journal of Learning and Change. Prior to her PhD, Dr Guha has completed her MBA from Lancaster University, UK. For her MBA, she was awarded the prestigious British Chevening Open MBA Scholarship. In addition, Dr Guha has years of experience in IT consulting and software product development. She has worked as a systems consultant for management consulting projects. She was also a product development manager.

Notes

1 Tata Sky is a leading service provider of direct-to-home (DTH) digital television in India.

2 Airtel is a leading service provider of digital television in India.