Understanding disruptive technology transitions in the global logistics industry: the role of ecosystems

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Mikl, Jasmin
Herold, David M
Pilch, Kamila
Ćwiklicki, Marek
Kummer, Sebastian
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2020
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Abstract

Purpose: Disruptive technologies in the global logistics industry are often regarded as a threat to the existing business models of incumbents’ companies. Existing research, however, focuses mainly on whether technologies have disruptive potential, thereby neglecting when such disruptive transitions occur. To understand the timing of potential disruptive technological change, this paper aims to investigate the elements of the underlying ecosystem shaping these transitions. Design/methodology/approach: Building on the established ecosystem framework from Adner and Kapoor (2016a), this paper constructs four categories of technology substitution to assess how quickly disruptive change may occur in the global logistics industry and defines key technology substitution determinants in logistics to emphasize the role of ecosystems for further consideration into disruptive innovation theory. Findings: Based on the key determinants, this paper proposes first definitions of distinctive ecosystems elements linked to the three types of innovations, namely, sustaining innovations, low-end disruptions and new-market disruptions, thereby integrating ecosystems into Christensen’s (1997) disruptive innovation theory. Originality/value: By developing a framework that conceptualizes the pace of technology substitution, this paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how logistics managers and academics can better predict disruptive transitions and develop strategies to allocate resources.

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Review of International Business and Strategy

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© Jasmin Mikl, David M. Herold, Kamila Pilch, Marek 􀀁Cwiklicki and Sebastian Kummer. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors.

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Transportation, logistics and supply chains

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Mikl, J; Herold, DM; Pilch, K; Ćwiklicki, M; Kummer, S, Understanding disruptive technology transitions in the global logistics industry: the role of ecosystems, Review of International Business and Strategy, 2020

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