Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-45). / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / The expression "disruptive technology" is now firmly embedded in the modern business lexicon. The mental model summarized by this concise phrase has great explanatory power for ex-post analysis of many revolutionary changes in business. Unfortunately, this paradigm can rarely be applied prescriptively. The classic formulation of a "disruptive technology" sheds little light on potential sources of innovation. This thesis seeks to extend this analysis by suggesting that many important disruptive technologies arise from commodities. The sudden availability of a high performance factor input at a low price often enables innovation in adjacent market segments. The thesis suggests main five reasons that commodities spur innovation: ** The emergence of a commodity collapses competition to the single dimension of price. Sudden changes in factor prices create new opportunities for supply driven innovation. Low prices enable innovators to substitute quantity for quality. ** The price / performance curve of a commodity creates an attractor that promotes demand aggregation. ** Commodities emerge after the establishment of a dominant design. Commodities have defined and stable interfaces. Well developed tool sets and experienced developer communities are available to work with commodities, decreasing the price of experimentation. ** Distributed architectures based on large number of simple, redundant components offer more predictable performance. Systems based on a small number of high performance components will have a higher standard deviation for uptime than high granularity systems based on large numbers of low power components. ** Distributed architectures are much more flexible than low granularity systems. Large integrated facilities often provide cost advantages when operating at the Minimum Efficient Scale of production. However, distributed architectures that can efficiently change production levels over time may be a superior solution based on the ability to adapt to changing market demand patterns. The evolution of third generation bus architectures in personal computers provides a comprehensive example of commodity based disruption, incorporating all five forces. / by Richard Ellert Willey. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-149). / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Innovation in platform industries, including mobile telecommunications, has a great impact on societies and economies; hence a migration from an existing platform to the subsequent one should be progressed under careful forecasting, weighed scenarios and strategies that encompass a broad view. This thesis analyzes why mobile network operators are struggling to move from the second generation (2G) and its derivatives to the third generation (3G) technologies and proposes migration strategies, which allow them to sustain their competitive advantage. First, a migration model is proposed as a reinforcing loop model composed of two dynamics, "Platform Migration" caused by a shortage of network capacity, and "Service Innovation" triggered by a decline in ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). Platform migration is an implementation process for new platform technologies and can be categorized into Revolution-type and Evolution-type. After these two schemes have been evaluated through case studies, Collaboration-type migration, an enhanced Evolution-type, is proposed for future, technically diversified situations. Service Innovation is a process for creating new profitable services to give further revenue growth. Empirical analysis clarifies that mental breakthrough management is a common approach in the mobile industry and proposes that a mixture of corporate, partner and market initiatives be adopted for diversified customer preference. This thesis then proposes the following strategies for future successful migration: first, mobile network operators should drive the migration cycle powerfully, concentrating on successive service innovation dynamics for their revenue growth and the next platform migration. Second, they should choose migration schemes carefully according to their level of technology leadership, value chain leadership and investment capability. Finally, service platform should be considered for realization of innovative services with Partnership Dynamics. / by Hisakazu Tsuboya. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003. / June 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-123). / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Everything is connected to everything. El Aleph (1945), by Jorge Luis Borges[1] This thesis addresses the need to simplify and streamline web service network infrastructure and to identify business models that best leverage Web services technology and industry dynamics to generate positive business results. Web services have evolved from the simple page-display protocol of their origin and now reach beyond the links that simply updated web data dynamically from corporate databases, to where systems can automatically transact. These Web services represent a series of network business technology standards and capabilities that irrevocably change the way in which businesses will do business. In fact, every business today is a networked business and has opportunities to grow using Web services. This study focuses on the implementation challenges in the financial services market, specifically the On Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) sector where legacy mainframes interface with multiple tiers of distribution through proprietary EDI links. The OLTP industry operates under stringent regulatory requirements for availability and audit-ability of not only who performed what transaction, but who had access to the information about the information. In this environment organizational demands on network infrastructure including hardware, software and personnel are changing radically, while concurrently Information Technology (IT) budgets are under pressure. The strategic choices for deploying web services in this environment may contain lessons for other industries where cost effective large scale processing, high availability, security, manageability and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are paramount concerns. In this paper we use a systems dynamics model to simulate the impact of market changes on the adoption of innovative technologies and their commoditization on the industry value chain, with the aim of identifying business models and network topologies which best support the growth of an Open Systems network business. From the results of the simulation we will derive strategic recommendations for networked business models and web services integration strategies to meet Line Of Business (LOB) objectives. / by Stephen B. Miles. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-111). / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / For organizations, the value of information is to improve decision making. In the military in particular, information's role in warfare has always been to affect decisions at all levels -- from strategic to tactical - to put one's forces in a position of advantage. In the information age, the cost of communicating such information has been so phenomenally reduced that it now becomes possible for individuals and entire organizations to tap vast amounts of information. This thesis seeks to address the question of how the modern military can best be designed to harness the power of the information revolution to enhance its ability to make faster, better decisions and thus to become more effective in war as well as in times of peace. To do so, the thesis first considers lessons from military history on the essence of decision making, analyzes the implications of the declining cost of communications and examines new organizational trends in both the corporate world and the military. With this foundation, new organizational designs for the military are proposed and scenarios for their use are described. These new organizational designs are optimized for the information age and incorporate increasingly decentralized making structures. Noting that such formal organizational restructuring by itself is inadequate, the thesis then looks at the shifts in leadership orientation and organizational culture necessary to create the environment that encourages empowerment of individuals as well as the competencies for the individual that are becoming increasingly important in an increasingly decentralized world. Finally, a framework that synthesizes the different ingredients necessary for designing the military organization in the 21st century is proposed. / by Boon Kim Tan. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. / The Telematics Industry faces tremendous challenges for growth. Regardless of the efforts and investment from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, telematics has not been that profitable industry that many analyst forecasted five years ago; a 40 billion industry by 2003. This paper presents an analysis of the dynamics of the telematics industry and emphasizes on factors affecting the diffusion of telematics innovation. These factors are related to openness of telematics systems and establishment of standards, network externalities effects and attractiveness of complementors, customer's willingness to pay, telematics services pricing, and consumer knowledge of newer technology. Based on an in-depth analysis of the telematics architecture and the technologies converging in the telematics system I suggest a mixed strategy with respect to standards. This strategy favors the growth of this industry. Based on this strategy there are developed some scenarios of how the telematics value network will look like and how the interaction among the players would take place. Finally, a conceptual system dynamic model is presented to illustrate the dynamics of the industry and how the factors influencing the adoption of the telematics all play together to favor or affect the diffusion of the growing telematics industry. / by Rodrigo Luis. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2004. / Leaf 105 blank. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-104). / With the increase in strategic alliances and acquisitions, the firm needs to be studied in the context of the network of relationships in which it is embedded. This network not only extends the capabilities of the firm by establishing channels to access additional resources but it also creates additional constraints that have to be accounted for. This fundamental view is the backdrop of this research on the dynamics of the diagnostic medical imaging industry. This thesis explores a variety of network-based approaches to characterize the dynamics of the medical imaging industry. After reviewing the literature on the subject of alliances and inter-organizational networks, we describe the medical imaging industry in the United States. For our analysis, we have compiled a list of alliances and acquisitions launched in the last 15 years and used that list to create an overall network for the industry where each node is an industry subgroup. Along with the visual representation, we have compiled a number of network-based statistics such as distribution of sub-industry membership and centrality. We have examined the trends of those metrics in three time periods, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, and 2000-2003 and related those trends to the information gathered through several interviews with industry experts. Those trends are consistent with the consolidation that has taken place in the industry in the last 10 years. However they also show the emergence of new centers of activity such as the medical services industry segment. Overall, this network model provides a powerful framework to "visualize" the internal structure of the industry. Leveraging on the main findings revealed by the network-based analysis, we put forward a system dynamics model that combines the main trends / (cont.) highlighted by our research. The model is the basis for a discussion on the potential evolution of the medical imaging ecosystem. While further centralization is expected, we anticipate that the role of the medical service industry segment and the contrast agent manufacturers may significantly weaken this centralization. / by Philippe Jeanrenaud. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-34). / The nuclear winter that filled the vacuum created by the Internet implosion was characterized by highly conservative investments in new technologies. This was particularly true for Internet- and Web-oriented technologies since after all, being a believer just wasn't as popular as it used to be. However, life, business, and science go on, and the Web is no exception. This thesis will examine hurdles in the business case for the Semantic Web. In one sense, the Semantic Web is an extension or enhancement of the existing World Wide Web (Web). As we know it today, the Web is a rich medium that allows humans to express themselves, learn, interact, and reach an audience that was a pipe dream just a decade ago. At the same time, the Web is of limited utility to computers (machines). For example, a human being could easily recognize a postal address or the specifications of an order for steel; a machine could not. To a machine, these data would simply be elements to be rendered and displayed on a monitor, with no intrinsic or cumulative meaning. In this sense, one of the goals set for the Semantic Web is to create meaning and utility for machines that allows for interpretation and action with far less human intervention. Issues related to the challenges, practicalities, theories and opportunities of the Semantic Web will be discussed. In the process, hopefully, this thesis will identify some of the stepping stones in building a business case for this evolution. Notably, today's comments regarding the Semantic Web sound very similar to what was once said about the practicalities of eBusiness and the likelihood of its adoption. / by David Provost. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-90). / Information Technology (IT) is a major enabler of business, yet the most questioned of investments. Time and again, the question asked by senior executives is: What is the business value of IT to our firm? This question is coming in from all directions and bringing to bear enormous pressure on the CIO role. More challenging is the expectation that the business value of IT projects be converted to cash flows, albeit for the sake of easy comparability among projects. The crux of the issue facing organizations with regard to assessing IT projects derives from the fact that there is now wide variety in the nature of such projects and consequently great differences in the nature and measurability of project benefits. Many organizations would like to reduce all benefits from all IT projects to a comparable financial metric, such as NPV based on investment and cash flows returns. While calculating the dollar value of IT projects may not be realistic, anything that helps managers to get a "sense" of, or better judge, the value of IT projects is money on the table. The approach to the thesis is to find a methodology to valuate IT projects. The solution that is recommended is a framework that is accompanied by a survey. The survey probes the business project manager and IT project manager of each project to asses the extent of benefits and risks that impact the objectives of both business management and IT management. It also probes the business unit manager to assess the importance each of these benefits and risks to the business strategy of the business unit. Based on the responses of the business unit manager, business project manager, and IT project manager, the survey assigns weights to the benefits, risks, and the responses, and then computes an Expected Business Value score and an Expected Technical Value score for each project. / by Ravi Chivukula. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Technology and Policy Program, 2000. / Also available online at the MIT Theses Online homepage <http://thesis.mit.edu>. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-101). / The United States Air Force utilizes a significant amount of its budget to maintain its aerospace systems in operational condition. In order to reduce these costs, the Air Force has communicated to aerospace manufactures a desire to reduce the overall costs of its aerospace system maintenance. This thesis investigates how the Air Force and Corporation Alpha, a leading manufacturer of aerospace engines, have adapted their design and development practices to make the EG10 fighter engine family more reliable, durable, and maintainable. I used the metric Unscheduled Engine Removals (UER) per 1000 Effective Flight Hours (UER/1000EFH) to compare the sustainability of different models of EG10 while investigating how the sustainment lessons of the EG10 have been incorporated into Corporation Alpha's latest product, the EG1 5-1. The analysis presented in this thesis will focus on the policies, technology, processes and tools, and final results of efforts to improve the sustainability of these engine systems. The final results show that the sustainability, as measured by the UER metric, have not increased beyond 106 EFH with each succeeding generation of EG10 engine. This illustrates that improving aerospace system sustainability involves factors beyond the design phase of the system. / by Spencer L. Lewis. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-124). / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / eBusiness is rapidly becoming the defacto business model of many firms. The pharmaceutical industry will continue to thrive regardless of recession, terrorism, war, or other external forces. Question is: what eBusiness technologies and trends are being currently pursued by pharmaceutical companies in managing critical relationships with business partners such as doctors, physicians, suppliers, retailers, distributors, and consumers? The purpose of this research is to provide a high-level overview of the pharmaceutical industry and companies that dominate in this vast arena. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of eBusiness in terms of phases, models, architectures, vendors, and products. Finally, eBusiness technologies and trends in global pharmaceutical organizations related to procurement, sales, and supply chain are analyzed in various case studies. This analysis ultimately leads to a carefully orchestrated conclusion that recaps this entire research based on eBusiness in the pharmaceutical industry. / by Imran Qayyum. / S.M.M.O.T.