Approaches in Technology Entrepreneurship: Dilemmas and Choices – Bricolage Versus Breakthrough

Approaches in Technology Entrepreneurship:
Dilemmas and Choices –
Bricolage Versus Breakthrough

Zhangjin Chen
Student ID: 8450274

Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship
Course Unite Code: BMAN61001
The University of Manchester

December 2012

CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
2.0 Bricolage versus Breakthrough----------------------------------------------------------- 2 2.1 Starting Position at Different Levels----------------------------------------=---------3 2.2 Wind Turbines: A Mirror to the Approaches------------------------------------------3
3.0 Bricolage: An Effective Approach-------------------------------------------------------- 4 3.1 Path Creation------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 3.2 Natoora: A Successful Path Creator----------------------------------------------------5 3.3 A Cure to Resource Constraints --------------------------------------------------------5 3.4 Grayson Hill Farms: A Typical "Bricoleur"-------------------------------------------6
4.0 Breakthrough: A Double-edged Sword---------------------------------------------------6 4.1 Segway: A Loser in Breakthrough-----------------------------------------------------7 4.2 Core of Entrepreneurship---------------------------------------------------------------8
5.0 Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
References --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10

1. Introduction

Similar to the development of modern wind turbines, a significant number of the greatest inventions or innovations in the last few decades are "not based on any new dramatic inventions or recent scientific discoveries" (Garud and Karnoe, 2003, p. 282) as well. Among the typical examples are digital cameras, where innovators have

References: Ahuja, G., Lampert C.M., (2001) Entrepreneurship in Large Corporation: A Longitudinal Study of How Established Firms Create Breakthrough Inventions. Strategic Management Journal, 22, pp. 521-543. Baker T., Miner A., and Eesley D., (2003) Improvising Firms: Bricolage, Retrospective Interpretation and Improvisational Competencies in the Founding Process. Research Policy, 32, pp. 255-276. Baker T., Nelson R.E., 2005. Creating Something from Nothing: Resource Construction through Entrepreneurial Bricolage. Administrative Science Quarterly, 50, pp. 329-366. [Online] Available at: [Accessed at: 15th November 2012] Foster R., (1986) Innovation: The Attackers Advantage, Summit Book: New York Golding E.W., (1955) The Generation of Electricity by Wind Power, E&FN Spon., London (Reprinted by Wiley, 1976). Hargadon, A. (2004) Clean Energy & Fuel Cells. A Report from the Public Cell Fuel Alliance 2004. Available at: [Accessed at: 20th November 2012] Heilemann J. (2001) Reinventing the Wheel. Time, 2. [Online] Available at: [Accessed at: 21st November 2012] Kirchhoff, B. (1991) Entrepreneurship’s contribution to economics, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 16(2), pp. 93-112. Koenig G. (1996) Management Stratégique: Paradoxes, Interactions et Apprentissage, éditons Nathan, Paris. Lanzara G.F. (1999) Between Transient Constructs and Persistent Structures: Designing Systems in Action, Journal of Strategic Information System, 8(4), pp. 331-349. Lévi-Strauss C. (1967) The Savage Mind, University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Methe D., Swaminathan A. and Mitchell W. (1996) The Underemphasized Role of established Firms as the Sources of Major Innovations, Oxford University Press, pp.1181. Segway Official Website, (2012) Segway: The Leader in Personal, Green Transportation. [Online] Available at: US Consumer Product Safety Commission Website, (2003) Recall Alert [Online] Available at: