The purpose of this chapter is to use the theory of bottlenecks laid out in previous chapters to better understand the dynamics of an open standards-based platform. I describe how the Wintel platform evolved from 1990 through 2000 under joint sponsorship of Intel and Microsoft. I first describe...

The modern industrial firm increasingly relies on software to support its competitive position. However, the uncertain and dynamic nature of today's global marketplace dictates that this software be continually evolved and adapted, to meet new business challenges. This ability – to rapidly...

Any complex technological system can be decomposed into a number of subsystems and associated components, some of which are core to system function while others are only peripheral. The dynamics of how such “core-periphery” structures evolve and become embedded in a firm's innovation...