Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Case Histories of Innovations

Abstract

Technologically slanted case histories of the development of industrial products are valuable supplements to more general analyses of technological innovation, which usually centre on economic and organizational considerations. This survey of available case histories shows that several lessons can be learnt from them.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Conant, J. B., and Nash, L. K., Harvard Case Histories in Experimental Science (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Price, W. J., and Bass, L. W., Science, 164, 802 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. National Science Foundation, Technology Transfer and Innovation (NSF 67–5, Washington, 1967).

  4. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Assessing Technology Transfer (NASA SP–5067, Washington, 1966).

  5. US Department of Commerce, Technological Innovation: Its Environment and Management (Washington, 1967).

  6. Central Advisory Council for Science and Technology, Technological Innovation in Britain (HMSO, London, 1968).

  7. Shanks, M., The Innovators (Penguin, London, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Layton, C., European Advanced Technology—A Programme for Integration (Allen and Unwin, London, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Beer, J., The Emergence of the German Dye Industry (Urbana, Illinois, 1959).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Freeman, C., Young, A., and Fuller, J. K., The Plastics Industry: A Comparative Study of Research and Innovation (National Institute Economic Review, London, No. 26, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Freeman, C., Harlow, C. J. E., and Fuller, J. K., Research and Development in Electronic Capital Goods (National Institute Economic Review London, No. 34 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Freeman, C., Robertson, A. B., Whittaker, P. J., Curnow, R. C., and Fuller, J. K., Chemical Process Plant: Innovation and the World Market (National Institute Economic Review, London, No. 45, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mencher, A. G., Sci. J., 5, 81 (June 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Blake, S. P., Sci. J., 5, 84 (June 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rothschild, G. M., Proc. Roy. Inst. Great Britain, 41, 454 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gowing, M., Britain and Atomic Energy 1939–45 (Macmillan, London, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jewkes, J., Sawers, D., and Stillerman, R., The Sources of Invention, second ed. (Macmillan, London, 1969).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Cocks, E. J., and Walters, B., A History of the Zinc Smelting Industry in Britain (Harrap, London, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Allen, J. A., Studies in Innovation in the Steel and Chemical Industries (Manchester University Press, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  20. National Academy of Sciences, USA, Applied Science and Technological Progress, Report to US House of Representatives, Washington (Government Printing Office, Washington, 1967).

  21. Tanenbaum, M., et al., Materials Advisory Board of the National Research Council, Report (Washington, ARPA, MAB-222-M, 1966).

  22. Sherwin, C. W., and Isenson, R. S., First Interim Report on Project Hindsight (Summary) (Washington, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, 1966); also Science, 156, 1571 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Fleischer, R. L., Walker, R. M., and Price, P. B., Sci. Amer., 220 (6) 30 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Suits, C. G., Speaking of Research (Wiley, New York, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kranzberg, M., and Pursell, jun., C. W., Technology in Western Civilisation, Vol. 2, Technology in the Twentieth Century (Oxford University Press, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Manuel, F. E., Daedalus, 969 (summer 1968).

  27. Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute (for National Science Foundation), Technology in Retrospect and Critical Events in Science (TRACES), 1 (Chicago, 1968) (2 to be published).

  28. McLaughlin, C. C., in Explorations in Enterprise (edit. by Aitken, H. G. J.), 259 (Harvard University Press, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CAHN, R. Case Histories of Innovations. Nature 225, 693–695 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/225693a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/225693a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing