The Fishbone Diagram to Identify, Systematize and Analyze the Sources of General Purpose Technologies

Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, vol. 4, n. 4, pp. 291-303

23 Pages Posted: 17 Jan 2018

See all articles by Mario Coccia

Mario Coccia

National Research Council of Italy (CNR)

Date Written: January 11, 2018

Abstract

This study suggests the fishbone diagram for technological analysis. Fishbone diagram (also called Ishikawa diagrams or cause-and-effect diagrams) is a graphical technique to show the several causes of a specific event or phenomenon. In particular, a fishbone diagram (the shape is similar to a fish skeleton) is a common tool used for a cause and effect analysis to identify a complex interplay of causes for a specific problem or event. The fishbone diagram can be a comprehensive theoretical framework to represent and analyze the sources of innovation. Fishbone diagram is applied here as a novel graphical representation to identify, explore and analyse whenever possible, the potential root causes of the source and evolution of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs). Overall, then, fishbone diagram seems to be an appropriate and general technique of graphical representation to explore and categorize, clearly and simply, the potential root causes of the evolution of technological innovations for an appropriate management of technology.

Keywords: Fishbone Diagram; General Purpose Technology; Source of technical change; Management of Technology; Technology Evolution; Evolution of Technology

JEL Classification: B40; O31; O33

Suggested Citation

Coccia, Mario, The Fishbone Diagram to Identify, Systematize and Analyze the Sources of General Purpose Technologies (January 11, 2018). Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, vol. 4, n. 4, pp. 291-303 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3100011

Mario Coccia (Contact Author)

National Research Council of Italy (CNR) ( email )

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Roma, 00185
Italy
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+390116824966 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.ircres.cnr.it/index.php/it/staffircres/42-cv

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