The early development of the steam engine: an evolutionary interpretation using complexity theory Export

@article{citeulike:3997937, abstract = {In this paper we analyse the early development of the steam engine as a search process in a multidimensional design space. This perspective allows us to make use of recent insights coming from complex systems theory, in particular, of a generalized version of Kauffman's NK-model. We analyse yearly distributions of steam engine designs and their sectors of application for the period 1760-1800. We interpret the patterns of variety and differentiation characterizing the behaviour of these distributions as emerging properties of underlying search processes unfolding in the design space. We conclude that the early development of steam power technology can be understood as a process of technological speciation' of various engine designs in distinct users' niches. 10.1093/icc/dth017}, author = {Frenken, Koen and Nuvolari, Alessandro}, citeulike-article-id = {3997937}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icc/dth017}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://icc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/2/419}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1093/icc/dth017}, journal = {Ind Corp Change}, keywords = {complexity, development, early, engine, evolutionary, interpretation, steam, theory}, month = {April}, number = {2}, pages = {419--450}, posted-at = {2009-02-02 18:45:30}, priority = {3}, title = {The early development of the steam engine: an evolutionary interpretation using complexity theory}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icc/dth017}, volume = {13}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3997937 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3997937 N2 - In this paper we analyse the early development of the steam engine as a search process in a multidimensional design space. This perspective allows us to make use of recent insights coming from complex systems theory, in particular, of a generalized version of Kauffman's NK-model. We analyse yearly distributions of steam engine designs and their sectors of application for the period 1760-1800. We interpret the patterns of variety and differentiation characterizing the behaviour of these distributions as emerging properties of underlying search processes unfolding in the design space. We conclude that the early development of steam power technology can be understood as a process of technological speciation' of various engine designs in distinct users' niches. 10.1093/icc/dth017 IS - 2 JF - Ind Corp Change EP - 450 TI - The early development of the steam engine: an evolutionary interpretation using complexity theory VL - 13 SP - 419 KW - complexity KW - development KW - early KW - engine KW - evolutionary KW - interpretation KW - steam KW - theory AU - Frenken, Koen AU - Nuvolari, Alessandro PY - 2004/04/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icc/dth017 ER -