IDA
Course PM (period 4, 2010):
ME2036 (IDA) Industrial Dynamics-Advanced Course
ECTS: 6
Credits: 6 hp
Level : D
Language: English
Course Home Page:
Course coordinator: Cali Nuur
Cali.nuur@indek.kth.se
Room 421, Lindedtsv 30
Contributing lecturers:
Staffan Laestadius (SL)
Pär Blomkvist (PB)
Michael Novotny (MN)
Description of the course:
This an advanced course in which understanding various aspects of changes relating to
knowledge creation, competence development, industrial capabilities, science and
technology- and how these processes takes place on a system’s level play a crucial role. A
core point of departure is an in-depth understanding of the transformation of industries
and technologies, which are more or less influenced by the economic, professional, policy
and cultural contexts. The measurement of these processes as well as their relation to
economic growth and competitiveness is also another theme of this course. Thus, the
course puts industrial and technological change in the context of the theory of dynamic
capabilities, which integrates evolutionary (innovation) theory with the theory of the firm.
The course also integrates theories of knowledge formation and learning in firms and
technical/innovation systems as well as the science and technology studies discourse.
More specifically after attending this course students would:
 Be able to gain in-depth knowledge on the mechanisms behind industrial and
technical change.
 Be familiar with the fundamentals of modern innovation theories
 Be able to analyse industrial and technological transformation from a historical and
technological context
 Be able gain in depth knowledge on knowledge formation processes involved in
understanding economic and technical transformation.
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Be familiar with the research frontier in industry, innovation and technology
analysis, research processes and policy, and evolutionary industrial processes and
the formation of dynamic firms.
Be able to gain in depth knowledge on the institutions that condition and constrain
industrial competitiveness.
Be able to identify the mechanisms behind technological and industrial change
Be familiar with the knowledge base for independent qualified analysesmanagement-implementation-process/policies and strategies that relate to
industrial and technical change on different systems levels.
Examination
The course examination is based on
a) Active participation in four seminars described below and delivering a written
paper (1-2 pages) after each seminar
b) Authoring, presenting, and defending a project paper (10-20 pages) on industrial
dynamics
c) Critiquing (Orally and in writing) a peer written paper (2-3 pages)
A note on the literature: Since this is an advanced course students are expected to read
and analyse a number of scientific articles. The compulsory literature of each of the
building blocks are given below. The literature seminars will be based on the suggested
articles. Students are advised to consult the professors of the course for further
literature suitable to their projects.
The seminars
- After every building block, the students are required to participate in a seminar. At
these seminars totaling 2, the students are required to hand in 1-2 pages on the
literature of the building block and critically discuss the presented concepts and
theories and their relevance
- A draft seminar on the project work. Here the students are required to hand in the
draft to the course coordinator 24 hours before the seminar.
- Final seminar; the students is expected to present his/her work and give critique
(orally and in writing) on another student’s paper. The final paper should be handed
in 48 hours before the seminar
Teaching activities
The teaching activities are based on two course blocks relating to industrial dynamics from
an advanced perspective namely:
Course block 1) Industrial transformation
a) Introductory texts on the mechanisms of transformations
Arthur, Brian (1990): “Positive Feedbacks in the Economy“ (in Scientific American):
http://www.santafe.edu/~wbarthur/Papers/Papers.html (pdf-version)
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- Articles by Erik Dahmén and Staffan Laestadius:
Hand outs by Pär Blomkvist at the lecture
- Everett M. Rogers:
Rogers, Everett (1995): Diffusion of Innovations (The Free Press, New York), chpt 1, dvs. sid. 1-37.
(ca 36 s)
http://courses.ceit.metu.edu.tr/ceit626/week9/rogers-doi-ch1.pdf
b) Industrial transformation: the case of the paper and pulp industry
Porter M. 1998; Clusters and the New Economics of Competition. Harvard
Business Review, nov–dec, 77-90.
http://www.wellbeingcluster.at/magazin/00/artikel/28775/doc/d/porterstudie.pdf?ok=j
Jacobsson Staffan; The emergence and troubled growth of a ‘biopower’ innovation
system in Sweden, Energy Policy 36 (2008) 1491–1508
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6V2W-4RWB115-11&_cdi=5713&_user=4478132&_pii=S0301421507005538&_orig=search&_coverDate=
04%2F30%2F2008&_sk=999639995&view=c&wchp=dGLbVlbzSkzk&md5=6b4445d84c5c023829c9a2ec8c1227f7&ie=/sdarticle.pdf
Laestadius, S., 2000. “Biotechnology and the Potential for a Radical Shift of
Technology in Forest Industry”, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, June
2000,
C ) Industrial transformation: The case of the Swedish Iron and Steel industry
- literature to be announced
Block two: Modern innovation theories and industrial change
a) The basics of innovation and entrepreneurship theory
-Schumpeter, J., “The fundamental phenomenon on economic development” (basics
on innovation and entrepreneurship), chapter 2 in The Theory of Economic
Development,
b)) Evolutionary economics
-Dosi, G. & Nelson, R., 1994, “An introduction to evolutionary theories in economics”,
Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 4, 153-172.
-Nelson, R., 1995, “Recent Evolutionary Theorizing About Economic Change”,
Journal of Economic Literature, 33, March, 48-90.
c) Institutional economics
-Hodgson, G., 1998, “The Approach of Institutional Economics”, Journal of
Economic Literature, 36, No. 1, 166-192
- Nelson, R., “The Co-evolution of Technology, Industrial Structure, and Supporting
Institutions”, Industrial and Corporate Change, 3, No 1, 47-63.
d) The systems levels of innovation
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-Laestadius and Rickne (2010) the foundations of innovation system, Forthcoming
book chapter
Franco Malerba (2002) “Sectoral systems of innovations and production”
Research policy 31, pp 247-264.
http://www.azc.uam.mx/socialesyhumanidades/06/departamentos/relaciones/
Pdf.%20De%20curso%20de%20MESO/Malerba2002Sistemas%20sectoriales.pdf
Nuur, Cali, Gustavsson, Linda and Laestadius, Staffan(2009)'Promoting Regional
Innovation Systems in a Global Context', Industry & Innovation,16:1,123 — 139
Kurs ME2036 Industriell dynamik, Avancerad k
Week 12, 2010
Course Kursomg
Moment
Lokal Lecturer
Mon
22
mar
10:00-12:00
IDA
ME2036V1
Introduction
Q33
CN
Wed
24
mar
13:00-15:00
IDA
ME2036V1
1A
E2
PB
ME2036V1
1B
Q33
MN
ME2036V1
1C
E35
CN
Seminar 1
Q33
CN
Vecka 13, 2010
Mån
29
mar
10:00-12:00
Ons
31
mar
10:00-12:00
IDA
Vecka 15, 2010
Mån
12
10:00-12:00
IDA
ME2036V1
apr
Ons
14
apr
13:00-15:00
ME2036V1
2A
Q33
SL
SL
Vecka 16, 2010
Mån
19
apr
10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
2B
Q33
Ons
21
apr
10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
reserve
E31,
E35
Vecka 17, 2010
Mån
26
apr
10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
Ons
28
apr
13:00-15:00
ME2036V1
2C
Q33
SL
2D
E2
CN
CN
Vecka 18, 2010
Mån 3 maj 10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
Seminar 2
Q33
Ons 5 maj 10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
Reserved
E35,
E36
Vecka 19, 2010
Mån
10
maj
10:00-12:00
Ons
12
maj
13:00-15:00
ME2036V1 Draft seminar 1)
Q33
CN
Vecka 20, 2010
Mån
17
maj
10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
Project
presentations
Q33
CN/MN
Ons
19
maj
10:00-12:00
ME2036V1
Project
presentations
E31
CN/MN
The project paper
The project paper is the final examination of the course. It should discuss/ analyse the
theories and concepts that have been covered in the course. The student can also apply
the concepts into a practical case (technology, industry etc). The student is allowed to
limit his/her analysis to one of the building blocks and go in-depth in analyses by using
empirical illustrations. At the draft seminar, peer critique and feedback will be given to
enhance the quality of the project.
The final project paper can be written with one or two other students (max 3) but everycoauthor should write a page declaration concerning his/her input and the input of the coauthors. The final paper should not exceed max. 15 pages (single line spaces, 12 point,
times new roman) and should be well referenced.
The paper must be based on literature and prime sources and has a clear message that is
sound and well referenced in the literature used and in the prime sources of your
investigation.
The paper should be modelled according to the standard academic form and should contain
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Introduction/background
The research objective(s) and research question(s),
Data gathering methodology
A conceptual discussion
Emiprical findings/illustrations
Conclusions and implications;
References/bibliography
The course is graded according to how well the student has followed the above
requirements. Apart from the paper (the most important factor) the grade is dependant on
your participation in the building block seminars and presentation and critique at the final
seminar.