Infighting and fitting in: Following innovation in the stent actor-network

Jim Lawlor, Donncha Kavanagh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper examines the technological and market innovation processes associated with emerging markets. Through a longitudinal study of the stent actor-network, four contests that punctuated the stent market's emergence are identified. Corporeal battles occurred as stents were fitted into the human body, and as the market emerged and stabilised through a process of creative construction. Subsequently, corporate wars developed between emergent corporate actors, and, in parallel, an incorporation campaign occurred in which emergent corporate actors sought to fit in to the established actor-network. Finally, civilized confrontation, or the 'normal' activities expected in a stabilised market, emerged. We conclude that, prior to Schumpeter's creative destruction impacting on the established market, there is a period of creative construction. We introduce the term 'mutable marketing' to describe the dominant market innovation processes evident during this period. This research shows that emergent actors are likely to be destroyed through mutually antagonistic infighting. •Creative destruction is preceded by a period of creative construction as a nascent market emerges.•Mutable marketing describes the dominant market innovation processes evident prior to the point of disruption.•Emergent corporate actors are likely to be destroyed through mutually antagonistic corporate wars.•Actors in emergent networks engage with established markets through subtle and emollient incorporation campaigns.•Civilized confrontation follows as the market object, and the market, stabilise.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)32-41
Number of pages10
JournalIndustrial Marketing Management
Volume44
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Actor-network theory
  • Creative destruction
  • Innovation
  • Longitudinal case study
  • Marketization

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