Retaining architectural knowledge within automotive design chains

Joy Batchelor, Hilary Bates, Simon Croom

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2001, vol. 1, issue 2/3, 217-235

Abstract: This paper presents a preliminary discussion of the factors which impact upon architectural innovation, and the retention of architectural knowledge within design chains. Contrary to previous discussions on architectural innovation, it is our belief that an organisation's architectural knowledge is tacit and processes of architectural innovation owe as much through shifts in social processes as they do due to technological innovations. Using the automotive industry as our prime example, we build upon our own exploratory research, and explore the need for the "make or buy" decision to consider knowledge assets. We conclude that the outsourcing and design and development of modular assemblies carry with them inherent risks related to the loss of architectural or systemic knowledge and ultimately a loss of power and control over the final product.

Keywords: architectural knowledge; architectural innovation; product architecture; modularity; make or buy decision. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=36 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijatma:v:1:y:2001:i:2/3:p:217-235

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().