Journal of engineering and technology management

Symmetric matrix of the relationships between technologies and predicted evolutionary pathways followed in two-technologies-interactive systems in response to natural selection in markets for minimization of negative effects from parasitism (starting state) to symbiosis (final state). Note . The notions of positive, negative and neutral benefit to technologies Ti and Tj from interaction in a system S are represented with following symbols of logic: +, −, 0 (zero); + + is a strong positive benefit to technologies Ti and Tj in S from long-run mutual-symbiotic interaction (i.e., coevolution of Ti and Tj in S, ∀i = 1,…,n; ∀j = 1,…,m). The interaction of technological systems generates: competition (−, −), amensalism (0, −), parasitism and predation (+, −), commensalism (+, 0), mutualism (+,+) and symbiosis (++,++). Continuous arrows indicate the most probable evolutionary trajectories of interactive technologies in which parasitic technologies reduce the impact on host (or master) technology, becoming commensal, mutualist and then symbiotic in the long run. Dotted arrows show alternative evolutionary pathways of interactive technologies. Both evolutionary pathways of technology converge towards a state of technological symbiosis in the long run • Theory of technological parasitism explains relationships between technologies underlying the evolution of complex systems of technology. • Host or master technologies with many inter-related parasitic technologies advance rapidly. • Host or master technologies with fewer parasitic technologies improve slowly. • Technological parasitism suggests a new direction for explaining the evolution of technology and designing innovation strategies. • Technological parasitism explains parasite-host relationships between technologies that foster long-run coevolution of technologies in complex systems. How do technologies develop? This study proposes the theory of technological parasitism that is based on the idea that parasite-host relationships between technologies and technologies wi...

A theory of the evolution of technology: Technological parasitism and the implications for innovation magement