Technology dynamics is broad and relatively new scientific field that has been developed in the framework of the postwar

science and technology studies Science and technology studies (STS) or science, technology, and society is an interdisciplinary field that examines the creation, development, and consequences of science and technology in their historical, cultural, and social contexts. Histo ...

field. It studies the process of

technological change Technological change (TC) or technological development is the overall process of invention, innovation and diffusion of innovations, diffusion of technology or business process, processes.From ''The New Palgrave Dictionary otechnical change by S. ...

. Under the field of Technology Dynamics the process of technological change is explained by taking into account influences from "internal factors" as well as from "external factors". Internal factors relate technological change to unsolved technical problems and the established modes of solving technological problems and external factors relate it to various (changing) characteristics of the

social environment The social environment, social context, sociocultural context or milieu refers to the immediate physical and social setting in which people live or in which something happens or develops. It includes the culture that the individual was educated ...

, in which a particular

technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

is embedded.

Overview

For the last three decades, it has been argued that technology development is neither an autonomous process, determined by the "inherent progress" of human history, nor a process completely determined by external conditions like the prices of the resources that are needed to operate (develop) a technology, as it is theorized in neoclassical economic thinking. In mainstream neoclassical economic thinking, technology is seen as an exogenous factor: at the moment a technology is required, the most appropriate version can be taken down from the shelf based on costs of labor, capital and eventually raw materials. Conversely, modern technology dynamics studies generally advocate that technologies are not "self-evident" or market-demanded, but are the upshot of a particular path of technology development and are shaped by social, economic and political factors. in this sense, technology dynamics aims at overcoming distinct "internal" and "external" points of views by presenting co-evolutionary approach regarding technology development. In general, technology dynamics studies, besides giving a " thick description" of technology development, uses constructivist viewpoints emphasizing that technology is the outcome of particular social context. Accordingly, Technology Dynamics emphasizes the significance and possibility of regaining

social control Social control is the regulations, sanctions, mechanisms, and systems that restrict the behaviour of individuals in accordance with social norms and orders. Through both informal and formal means, individuals and groups exercise social con ...

of technology, and also provides mechanisms needed to adapt to and steer the development of certain technologies. In that respect, it uses insights from retrospective studies to formulate hypotheses of a prospective nature on technology development of

emerging technologies Emerging technologies are technology, technologies whose development, practical applications, or both are still largely unrealized. These technologies are generally innovation, new but also include old technologies finding new applications. Emer ...

, besides formulating prescriptive policy recommendations. An important feature of relevant theories of technological change therein is that they underline the quasi-evolutionary character of technological change: change based on technological variation and social selection in which technological knowledge, systems and

institutions An institution is a humanly devised structure of rules and norms that shape and constrain social behavior. All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity. Laws, rules, social conventions and ...

develop in interaction with each other. Processes of '

path dependence Path dependence is a concept in the Social science, social sciences, referring to processes where past events or decisions constrain later events or decisions. It can be used to refer to outcomes at a single point in time or to long-run equilibria ...

' are crucial in explaining technological change. Following these lines, there have been different approaches and concepts used under the field of technology dynamics.

Different frameworks to analyze the dynamics of technology

* Social construction of technology *

Actor–network theory Actor–network theory (ANT) is a theoretical and methodological approach to social theory where everything in the social and natural worlds exists in constantly shifting networks of relationships. It posits that nothing exists outside those rela ...

Systems theory Systems theory is the Transdisciplinarity, transdisciplinary study of systems, i.e. cohesive groups of interrelated, interdependent components that can be natural or artificial. Every system has causal boundaries, is influenced by its context, de ...

Normalization process theory Normalization process theory (NPT) is a sociological theory, generally used in the fields of science and technology studies (STS), implementation research, and healthcare system research. The theory deals with the adoption of technological and o ...

*Quasi-evolutionary theories * Innovation system * Technological innovation system Based on the analysis of the various perspectives, one can aim at developing interventions in the dynamics of a technology. Some approaches have been developed targeting on interventions in technological change: *

Technology assessment Technology assessment (TA, , ) is a practical process of determining the value of a new or emerging technology in and of itself or against existing technologies. This is a means of assessing and rating the new technology from the time when it w ...

Backcasting Backcasting is a planning method that starts with defining a desirable future and then works backwards to identify policies and programs that will connect that specified future to the present. The fundamentals of the method were outlined by John B ...

*Strategic niche management *

Transition management (governance) Transition management, in the financial sense, is a service usually offered by sell side institutions to help buy side firms transition a portfolio of securities. Various events including acquisitions and management changes can cause the need ...

References

* Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes, Trevor J. Pinch (1987). ''The social construction of technological systems; new directions in the sociology and history of technology''. Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT Press. * Michel Callon, Philippe Larédo, et al. (1992). "The management and evaluation of technological programs and the dynamics of techno-economic networks: The case of the AFME." Research Policy 21(3): 215–236. *Geels, F. W. (2002). Understanding the dynamics of technological transitions : a co-evolutionary and socio-technical analysis. Enschede, Universiteit Twente. *Hekkert, M. P., R. A. A. Suurs, et al. "Functions of innovation systems: A new approach for analysing technological change."

Technological Forecasting and Social Change ''Technological Forecasting and Social Change'' (formerly ''Technological Forecasting'') is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Elsevier covering futures studies, technology assessment, and technology forecasting. Articles focus on method ...

In Press, Corrected Proof. *Nelson, R. R. and S. G. Winter (1982). An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change. Cambridge MA., The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. * Olmeda, Christopher J. (1998). Health Informatics: Concepts of Information Technology in Health and Human Services. Delfin Press. * Arie Rip, Misa, Thomas J., Schot, Johan (1995). Managing technology in society; the approach of constructive technology assessment. London, Pinter. *Rotmans, J., Kemp, R., Asselt, M. van (2001). "More revolution than evolution: transition management in public policy." Foresight 3(1): .015-.031. *Schot, J. W. (1992). "Constructive Technology Assessment and Technology Dynamics: The Case of Clean Technologies." Science, Technology, & Human Values 17(1): 36. *Smith, A., A. Stirling, et al. (2005). "The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions." Research Policy 34(10): 1491–1510.

External links

Technology Dynamics and sustainable Development
{{Science and technology studies Science and technology studies Technology in society Technological change Technology assessment