Economies of platform innovation theory through knowledge modularization and reuse: The cases of software components and silicon intellectual properties(SIPs).

本論文主要在探索作為產業組織核心之「公司」，將其知識以公開或特定之標準或程序加以模組化(modularization)後，進行公司內部與外部以產品開發為主之知識分工(division of knowledge)與再用(reuse)活動，因而衍生的組織與管理問題，以及公司間知識移轉與學習問題。並希望藉由產業實證，發展以「知識模組化與再用」為基礎之技術創新理論。 研究過程採取紮根理論，針對了軟體產業四家公司與半導體設計業四家公司，分別就其採取軟體元件與矽智財之模組化創新現象進行深入訪談研究，進行編碼過程，將觀念類別抽象化為「績效與競爭力」、「研發知識模組技術力」、「知識模組再用力」、「知識模組平台演進力」、「組織政策與文化」、「產業基礎模組主導者之引導力」、「市場異質性」、「知識模組交易/交換成熟度」及「產業中介組織推動力」等九項。 根據實證發現，知識模組創新公司企業常規為(1)採取知識模組再用平台為核心之產品/服務創新模式；(2)以平台為考量之組織構型設計；(3)建立四項公司內部重要能力—包括研發知識模組技術力、知識模組再用力、知識模組再用平台演進力、及組織政策與文化。至於影響產業知識模組交換/交易之因素，則為(1)開放之平台知識模組來源；(2)營造利於知識模組再用之供需脈絡；(3)妥善運用產業網絡。 有關理論之建構，本研究選擇「平台經濟性」作為核心類別，並以「知識模組動態組合價值性」作為演化準則，經由主軸編碼與選擇編碼等程序，發展出九項命題，藉以建構「平台經濟性創新(economies of platforms innovation)」理論。根據該理論，本研究指出知識模組創新公司，可依據能力審視、能力構築、能力持續等三階段，建構其動態核心能力。 本研究最後針對產業與政府等實務界，提出綜合性建議如下： 一、對產業界之建議 應注意與學習辨識所處產業是否正進入後產業化階段之分合(dis-integration)過程所產生之知識分工趨勢，並參考本研究所提出之「平台經濟性創新理論」，研擬以「平台經濟性」為基礎之知識模組化創新策略。同時，應積極運用知識模組供需脈絡與產業網絡之力量。 二、對政府產業政策之建議 針對協助個別企業提升內部能力方面，可加強輔導企業發展以知識模組再用平台為基礎之研發計畫，並且建立標竿案例與最佳實務，以提供企業導入「平台經濟性創新策略」之參考。同時，針對有主導潛力之知識模組創新企業，協助其深化發展產業主流平台。 此外，與國際相較，台灣知識型企業之規模仍屬偏小，政府輔導機制可加強推動國際級產業基礎模組主導者與國內業者結盟、輔導建立夥伴廠商體系(e.g.旗艦計畫)、輔導建立知識模組交易/交換機制、協助釐清知識模組之智慧財產權爭議、以及積極參與國際標準制訂，並快速擴散相關資訊與技術供產業參考等。Knowledge modularization is a popular phenomenon in knowledge-based industries. This study explores issues related to companies, which use open or specific stan-dards/procedures to encapsulate their knowledge into modules, and then use such mod-ules to pursue internal and/or external division of knowledge and knowledge reuse activi-ties, for the purpose of developing products. The said issues include the organization and management issues, as well as knowledge transfer and learning. Through the process of empirical field investigations this study aims to develop a new technological innovation theory, which is based on knowledge modularization and reuse. This study adopted the Grounded Theory, together with case studies, as the main methodology to guide the research process. Eight companies were selected as case stud-ies, which included four companies from the software industry and four design houses from the semiconductor industry. We interviewed these companies to discuss in-depth modularization innovation concerning software components in software industry and silicon intellectual properties (SIPs) in the semiconductor industry. The collected data is differentiated into nine conceptual categories, which are the (1) performance and com-petitiveness, (2) technology capabilities for developing knowledge modules, (3) capabili-ties for reusing knowledge modules, (4) evolution of knowledge module platforms, (5) organization policy and culture, (6) leadership in terms of basic industry modules, (7) market heterogeneity, (8) maturity of knowledge module transactions/exchanges, and (9) promotion of intermediary industry organizations. According to the study's findings, knowledge module innovation companies usually adopt the following procedures : (1) use knowledge module reuse platforms as the core of product/service innovation models; (2) organization structure design based on platforms; establish four internal capabilities, including (i) enhance the technology capabilities for developing knowledge module, (ii) reusing knowledge modules, (iii) speed up the evolution of knowledge module reuse platforms, (5) establish organization policy and culture. As for factors impacting industry knowledge module exchanges/transactions, these include 1) knowledge module sources for open platforms, 2) create supply and demand beneficial to knowledge module reuse, 3) making good use of industry networks. Regarding the formation of a theory, the “economies of platforms” are used as the core category, and develop the “dynamic combination value of knowledge modules” as a criterion of evolution. Through axial and selective coding, nine propositions are devel-oped to support and construct the theory of "economies of platform innovation". Accord-ing to this theory, the study finds that knowledge module innovation companies can build their dynamic core capabilities through three phases, including capabilities positioning, building up capabilities, and sustaining capabilities. The study also proposes several suggestions for the industry and government: 1. Suggestions for the industry: Companies should closely watch and learn to recognize whether the structure of the industry in which they operate is entering a dis-integration process leading to division of knowledge. If so, the companies can refer to the theory of "economies of platform in-novation", to take action on knowledge module innovation strategies based on the economies of platforms. Meanwhile, they should utilize the power of the sup-ply-demand of knowledge modules and industrial networks. 2. Suggestions for the government's industry policies: For the purpose of helping individual firms raise their capabilities, the government could improve R&D assistance programs focused on the establishment of knowledge module reuse platforms. The government can also establish benchmarks or best practice cases as references for companies who would like to adopt innovation strategies for economies of platforms. Furthermore, knowledge module innovation companies with the potential to become industry leaders can be further assisted in developing mainstream industry platforms. Besides, compared with international companies, the scale of knowledge-based companies in Taiwan is small. Therefore, the government can strengthen its efforts in promoting alliances between international industry leaders and Taiwanese companies, help Taiwanese companies to establish strategic partner networks, assist companies in establishing transaction/exchange mechanism for knowledge modules, clarify issues re-lated to intellectual properties of knowledge modules, participate in international stan-dards bodies, and provide up-to-date and relevant market and technology information