Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2006. / Page 150 blank. / Includes bibliographical references (o, 120-121). / This thesis studies the intellectual property strategy of companies in the flash memory industry, with special emphasis on technology and the development of nitride-based flash, a new and emerging type of memory technology. First, general perspectives and frameworks for licensing of patents and know-how are explored. Then, the participants in the flash memory industry are mapped to a product value chain, which is in turn mapped to an intellectual property value chain. We use a patent database analysis software IPVision in order to examine the patent portfolios of some of the memory chip companies. Analysis of the patent positions allows us to draw conclusions about the direction of technology development. / by Tomoko H. Ogura. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 55). / The emergence and adoption of a disruptive technology that replaces an existing industry platform not only has enormous implications to incumbent firms, but also creates business opportunities that is enabled by the newly adopted technology. Firms competing in such an evolving and dynamic industry face great management challenges in its product's technological innovation process. Furthermore, defining strategies to sustain its competitive advantage through the market evolution by transitioning to the new platform is a non-trivial management task. This thesis focuses on the digital imaging industry that consists of input/output/storage devices as well as related software and services. This thesis will -- describe the evolution, transition, and competitive/collaborative environment of the consumer photography industry, both analog and digital, by way of value chain analysis, -- identify current trends that is shaping the digital imaging industry and the challenges it faces, -- explore key factors that influence the expansion of digital imaging, focusing on two platform technologies, specifically the image data format and removable memory card format, -- discuss the strategic implications for a new format to be introduced in a fast growing industry and its diffusion strategies, and -- establish a basis to allow firms to address the industry challenges in order to sustain its competitive advantage. / by Katsuki Ishii. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 67). / The atmosphere of the entrepreneurial world emphasizes the need for unlimited time and extensive effort on part of the entrepreneur to creatively build an organization. As a result, the amount of time an entrepreneur can spend with his or her spouse and family is substantially reduced. In unknown number of cases, the entrepreneur may find a need for advice, support, and help from the spouse while journeying along this new path. This journey can have a two-fold impact on the spouses. The spouses of entrepreneurs may be themselves in need of attention, time, and guidance from the other spouse in family matters and meeting the needs of growing children. However, many spouses find themselves in a situation where they cannot expect much help from the entrepreneur; on the contrary, they may well be challenged by the demands of the entrepreneur and the business. Added to this situation, many spouses may hope to pursue their own interests and/or careers. They may have friendships and personal interests, they may wish to maintain and may have extended family obligations too. Owing to their partner's entrepreneurial efforts, the spouses own outside interests may make further demands on the spouse's time. All this could amount to spinning multiple dishes like a juggler. This thesis explores the role of spouses in entrepreneurship. I reviewed literature, conducted interviews, and made use of my own experiences to form the basis of the study. The research focuses on three issues. First, I reviewed the literature, such as it is, which led me to question why there is so little work on the role of spouses in entrepreneurship. / (cont.) Second, the role of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship is examined from the perspective of the social requirements for pursuing this path. Third, through extensive interviews, I examined the role of spouses in entrepreneurship, and the role of spouses from the viewpoint of the entrepreneurs themselves. / by Sanjay H. Inamdar. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2000. / Also available online at the MIT Theses Online homepage <http://thesis.mit.edu>. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-79). / The evaluation for the competency of New Technology Vehicles, such as Fuel Cell vehicles, Hybrid vehicles and Current vehicles with incrementally improved combustion engines are examined as well as fuel systems that support those power train alternatives. The competency for each alternative is measured through an economic instrument in terms of cost of power train alternatives, cost of fuel alternatives, and environmental factors. Careful observations imply that a fuel cell with a direct hydrogen system will be the most promising power train in the near future and that we are finally on the verge of entering the diffusion process. The analysis deployed here shows how the choice offsets its internal "the chicken or the egg" dilemma by selective manufacturing equipment and transportation infrastructure that support the power train. In addition, detail investigations are described that clarifies the uncertainties accompanied in developing and commercializing the power train. Finally, insights are presented regarding how a green penalty significantly enhances the diffusion process. / by Yoshikazu Shimazu. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-90). / In his 1997 book, The Innovators Dilemma, HBS Professor Clay Christensen discusses the impact of "disruptive technologies" on leading incumbent firms in various industries. In many ways the phenomena of the Internet and the World Wide Web threaten to become the most disruptive technology to many industries in many decades, and perhaps much longer. This thesis examines one such industry: that of the institutional capital markets. The institutional capital markets industry consists primarily of broker-dealers, serving issuers and investors in concert with asset collectors, organized exchanges and regulatory bodies in various, but interlinked, geographical and product-defined capital markets. The size and economic impact of the industry, which transacts in excess of $1 trillion daily, is enormous. The trend in the industry since the global depression of the 1930' s has been one of consolidation and increased integration of product offerings. Beginning in 1997 new, Internet-enabled business models began to pose a serious threat to the existing industry structure. Traditional product bundles are being dis-aggregated and re-priced. New agents are re intermediating traditional brokers and exchanges. Networks are dramatically improving the efficiency of information. Barriers to entry are falling fast. This thesis examines the developments in electronic, institutional capital markets primarily from the perspective of leading incumbent firms. The legacy market structure is examined and new changes to that structure are analyzed. Three leading firms in particular are employed as examples. Electronic Communication Networks ("ECNs") are discussed as the primary challenger to the status quo. Incumbent strategies and potential scenario outcomes are discussed and evaluated. Some recommendations are ventured. The thesis is based upon a) a review of the academic literature of technology innovation, b) a survey of current media reporting and, where available, proprietary research, and c) interviews with the management of two of the leading incumbent firms. Some internal, proprietary material was also provided by Merrill Lynch, Inc. The academic literature referenced herein focuses on the legacy of work in innovation in technology and includes most notably Porter's work on competitive advantage and industry analysis, particularly the famous "five forces"; Foster's introduction of the technology 'S' Curve; Christensen's work on disruptive technologies and the responses by leading incumbent firms; and Henderson's teaching in technology strategy and managing the innovative process. Secondary references are made through these scholars to earlier foundation-building work by Tushman, Clark and others. / by David Berray. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2000. / Also available online at the DSpace at MIT website. / "June 2000." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-78). / The history of some U.S. service industries includes a period of rapid consolidation through the acquisition of many firms by one or a few competitors. This is often referred to as a "roll-up", with the designation used both as a verb in referring to the process and as a noun in referring to the company doing the acquiring. Roll-ups have become a well-known phenomenon since at least 1971, when Waste Management Corporation commenced an aggressive roll-up of the North American solid waste industry. In this paper, we look at the roll-up phenomenon closely and identify some of the patterns that characterize the process. We examine the history of three U.S. service industries -- solid waste, funeral homes, and landscape maintenance -each of which has experienced (or is experiencing) rapid consolidation through the roll-up process. In our investigation, we identify common characteristics as well as key differences among the three, and investigate the background of the industry, the market forces that appeared to be driving the industry dynamics at the time the consolidation efforts began, the pattern and processes of consolidation, and the results of the consolidation effort. In doing so, we identify potential industry characteristics and elements of the roll-up process that may have been contributing factors in determining the outcomes. The analysis employs several concepts and frameworks from the corporate strategy literature. Chief among these is Porter's five forces model of industry structure (Porter 1980). Additional concepts used to compare and contrast the three industries and the consolidation of each include minimum efficient scale, economies and diseconomies of scale, and inspection and integration issues related to merger activity (Oster 1999). / 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 61-62). / A strategy is presented to rapidly advance a developing nation utilizing the power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). A banking institution is chosen to be the anchor tenant to spread ICT. A radical approach of re-engineering using leading technologies is applied to transform the new bank to make it competitive for the new agenda. Development of a robust fiber optical network is proposed to facilitate connectivity of the branches for subsequent massive extension of broadband access through out the country. The strategic vision is to create a viral effect of ICT in the semi-rural and rural areas through use of innovative business models in order to achieve spurt in economic growth and pursue long term development. / by Abdullah Hasan. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-123). / The telecommunications industry faces growing competition from deregulated markets and rapid technology change, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to invest in an ever-widening range of technology segments such as equipment, networks, and application services. Every player needs an efficient strategy for achieving C()St effectiveness of processes and quick commercialization of innovations. In order to identify solution to these problems, this thesis focuses on technology strategies in data networking industry acquisitions. This thesis follows the acquisition efforts in recent years of two technology industry giants: Cisco Systems and Lucent Technologies. It probes the companies' motivations and rationale behind their acquisitions, the impact upon the firms' portfolio of technological competencies, and potential and actual penetration of new markets and access to new technologies as a result of the acquisitions. In addition, organizational issues posed by technology management and other subsequent effects on their core competencies are discussed. Comparative analyses of these companies led to key considerations of success/failure factors in acquisition and development (A&D) activities related to firm selection, integration, and evaluation processes. Effective formulas for A&D are summarized as they relate to critical strategic assets such as market, product, technology, value chain, IT, location, organization, people, culture, and vision. As a result of this study, the thesis produces guidelines for the technology strategy of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT). The Japanese telecom industry is currently exposed to more severe competition than ever before due to the partial breakup of NTT in July 1999. The guidelines focus on the importance of recognizing both the A&D execution model and the feasibility of the recommended formulas and execution of consistent technology strategies based on past internal/external know-how and experiences. / by Kazuhiko Ohkubo. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-105). / Recently Japanese oil companies have been struggling to provide customers with differentiated services and satisfaction, and to capture their perception. They tried changing the relationship with dealers over multiple distribution channels in order to solve this issue. Through trials and errors the oil companies managed to have dealers under their control by vertical integration, but the vertical integration did not result in positive impact for either the oil companies or the dealers since lack of communication brought about conflict between them regarding marketing approach. By learning from practice oil companies have been changing their channel control policy from vertical integration to partnerships that enable the oil companies and their dealers to create more intimate and consequently cooperative relationships. Furthermore, their challenge to channel management has resulted in developing new distribution channels by building partnerships with unrelated industries. This thesis focuses on the dynamics of two partnership models in the distribution channel, vertical partnerships, a new type of relationship between suppliers and their dealers, and horizontal partnerships that are strategic distribution alliances with unrelated industries. First, the driving forces of these partnerships are presented and from that hypotheses are built that determine successful relationships with partners and positive impact for customers. Following that is research and analysis of partnership cases from Japanese oil companies that verify these hypotheses. Further, key factors are extracted from the cases and their validity is checked by adapting each hypothesis. Finally, key factors are prioritized by using an attribution map and the conclusion is a successful methodology for vertical and horizontal partnerships specific to Japanese oil companies. / by Hirotaka Yamanami. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 69). / Products and services are two ways firms delivery value to customers. In some situations firms augment physical products with services related to that product. In other situations the service offered to customers is the primary offering and it is enabled by a product. This paper investigates enterprise resource planning (ERP) software tracking its evolution from predominantly a product with associated services to an offering as a service enabled by the software product. Frameworks have been developed to analyze service offerings. Two such frameworks capture causal relationships to customer value and customer satisfaction. This paper analyzes these frameworks and applies one of them to SAP R/3 ERP software as the offering evolved towards a more pure service offering (product-based). The paper then analyzes the sufficiency and appropriateness of one framework, the service profit chain, to the current offering of the SAP R/3 ERP application service provider (ASP) product, MySAP.com. Several additions are suggested to enhance the service profit chain model. / by Atsuhito Momma. / S.M.M.O.T.