TY - JOUR
T1 - The Paradox of Standard Flexibility: The Effects of Co-evolution between Standard and Interorganizational Network
AU - van den Ende, Jan
AU - Kaa, Geerten
AU - Uijl, S
AU - de Vries, Henk
PY - 2012/6/22
Y1 - 2012/6/22
N2 - The literature has dedicated significant attention to the effects of standard-supporting, interorganizational
networks on the content of standards and standard survival. However, minimal attention has been paid to
the effects of the standard¿s characteristics and dynamics on these networks. This paper contributes to
closing this gap. We introduce the paradoxical concept of `standard flexibility¿ and study the interaction
between the characteristics of a standard-supporting network and the development of the standard itself,
including the effect of the interaction on standard success. More specifically, we show how a standard¿s
flexibility can serve to attract new network members, facilitating growth and diversity of the network, which
in turn has implications for further adaptations of the standard. We study this co-evolutionary process in
three standards battles: Blu-ray versus HD-DVD, USB versus Firewire, and WiFi versus HomeRF. Our
findings suggest that those participating in standardization can persuade non-participating stakeholders to
join by allowing for changes in the standard. In turn, the existing members can expect that the new members
will request further changes. The cases suggest that early timing of the co-evolutionary process enhances
the chances of standard success. We also explore the emergence of path dependencies in the process and
the forces that restrict the co-evolutionary process over time. For managers, our findings indicate that changes in standards should not be considered undesirable, but as opportunities that may strengthen the
interorganizational network and contribute to a standard¿s success.
AB - The literature has dedicated significant attention to the effects of standard-supporting, interorganizational
networks on the content of standards and standard survival. However, minimal attention has been paid to
the effects of the standard¿s characteristics and dynamics on these networks. This paper contributes to
closing this gap. We introduce the paradoxical concept of `standard flexibility¿ and study the interaction
between the characteristics of a standard-supporting network and the development of the standard itself,
including the effect of the interaction on standard success. More specifically, we show how a standard¿s
flexibility can serve to attract new network members, facilitating growth and diversity of the network, which
in turn has implications for further adaptations of the standard. We study this co-evolutionary process in
three standards battles: Blu-ray versus HD-DVD, USB versus Firewire, and WiFi versus HomeRF. Our
findings suggest that those participating in standardization can persuade non-participating stakeholders to
join by allowing for changes in the standard. In turn, the existing members can expect that the new members
will request further changes. The cases suggest that early timing of the co-evolutionary process enhances
the chances of standard success. We also explore the emergence of path dependencies in the process and
the forces that restrict the co-evolutionary process over time. For managers, our findings indicate that changes in standards should not be considered undesirable, but as opportunities that may strengthen the
interorganizational network and contribute to a standard¿s success.
U2 - 10.1177/0170840612443625
DO - 10.1177/0170840612443625
M3 - Article
VL - 33
SP - 705
EP - 736
JO - Organization Studies
JF - Organization Studies
SN - 0170-8406
IS - 5-6
ER -