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Breaking the Chains of Embedded Knowledge: Architectural Innovation as a Source of Competitive Advantage
Author(s) -
Henderson Rebecca
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
design management journal (former series)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1948-7169
pISSN - 1045-7194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1948-7169.1991.tb00576.x
Subject(s) - competitive advantage , context (archaeology) , business , knowledge management , product (mathematics) , process (computing) , new product development , computer science , process management , industrial organization , marketing , paleontology , geometry , mathematics , biology , operating system
AS HENDERSON DEFINES it, architectural knowledge is the critical ability to integrate information from various sources during the product development process. In this context, if an organization allows architectural knowledge to become one unarticulated aspect of its culture, innovation suffers as traditions stifle new insights. Alternatively, if architectural knowledge is explicitly recognized and well managed, it becomes a catalyst for innovation and a formidable competitive weapon.