Radical innovation in a small firm: a hybrid electric vehicle development project at Volvo Cars
2010; Wiley; Volume: 40; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1467-9310.2010.00608.x
ISSN1467-9310
Autores Tópico(s)Innovation and Knowledge Management
ResumoR&D ManagementVolume 40, Issue 4 p. 372-382 Radical innovation in a small firm: a hybrid electric vehicle development project at Volvo Cars Hans Pohl, Hans Pohl Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology and VINNOVA, Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, 101 58 Stockholm, Sweden. [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria Elmquist, Maria Elmquist Department of Technology Management and Economics, Center for Business Innovation, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden. [email protected]Search for more papers by this author Hans Pohl, Hans Pohl Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology and VINNOVA, Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, 101 58 Stockholm, Sweden. [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMaria Elmquist, Maria Elmquist Department of Technology Management and Economics, Center for Business Innovation, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden. [email protected]Search for more papers by this author First published: 23 August 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.2010.00608.xCitations: 31Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract The potential paradigmatic shift in technology from the internal combustion engine to electric propulsion via hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) has been addressed by most automakers, and has produced very different outcomes. This paper uses the framework of core capabilities to discuss how the small automaker, Volvo Cars, made substantial progress in its HEV development using an approach based on limited resources and a low risk. A comparison with Toyota's successful but very resource-demanding Prius project reveals some factors contributing towards rapid development in a context of limited resources, including focused project objectives, tight collaboration with suppliers of the new technologies, reuse of existing technologies and an unaggressive, bottom-up approach to change the firm's values and norms and other core capability dimensions. 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