Competence building in electric mobility: solving the paradox of specific investments in nascent industries

Due to their high degree of uncertainty, nascent industries are of increasing interest in strategic management science. Drawing on the concept of specificity, the authors 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, the authors show how firms handle the paradox of specific investments. The authors' 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.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1504/IJATM.2013.054921
• Record URL:
  http://inderscience.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=U76481T7628G0227
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14709511
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
• Authors:
  • Gersch, Martin
  • Rüsike, Tilman
  • Reichle, Florian
• Publication Date: 2013

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 273-288
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Inderscience Enterprises Limited
  • ISSN: 1470-9511
  • Serial URL: http://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=IJATM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric vehicles; Industries; Investments; Management; Mobility; Strategic planning
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01487328
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 26 2013 2:02PM