The Radical Flank Effect and Cross-occupational Collaboration for Technology Development during a Power Shift

Area of Science:

• Organizational Studies
• Innovation Management
• Technology Adoption

Background:

• Organizations often face shifts from radical to incremental technology development.
• Such transitions can create power struggles between dominant and challenger occupational groups.
• The car-sharing industry provides a context for studying these dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of shifting technological focus on intergroup power dynamics.
• To understand how cross-occupational collaboration is affected during technology development shifts.
• To identify mechanisms that facilitate or hinder collaboration between engineering and marketing.

Main Methods:

• A 12-month ethnographic study of an early U.S. car-sharing company.
• Analysis of 42 projects across two distinct time periods.
• Qualitative examination of collaboration between engineering and marketing groups.

Main Results:

• A shift towards incremental technology improvement can trigger power struggles.
• A "radical flank threat" can strengthen the bargaining power of moderate members.
• Moderate engineers may form coalitions with moderate challengers to pursue incremental goals.

Conclusions:

• Cross-occupational collaboration is influenced by the nature of technological change.
• Internal power dynamics shape the direction of technology development.
• Strategic alliances between moderate factions can lead to incremental innovation and power preservation.