ON THE DEFINITION AND MEASUREMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL DISCONTINUITIES

Technological discontinuities often have disruptive effects on the str ucture of an industry. The industry frequently de-matures and exhibits more infant characteristics. Established firms often face severe diff iculties in adjusting to the new technology. In this paper we critical ly review the literature dealing with technological discontinuities. S everal observations are made. First there is great confusion in the li terature regarding definitions of what it is that undergoes a disconti nuous change. Second, the various foci of analysis are also confusing. Third, most of the researchers who have studied technological change as a change in competence do not report how they have measured the deg ree of technical change, although all proposed to study a major techno logical change.