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I can't remember where I got this quote from, but early on I learned that there are basically three ways to beat the US in technology: 1. The Japanese Way - In

I can't remember where I got this quote from, but early on I learned that there are basically three ways to beat the US in technology: 1. The Japanese Way - Innovate By Leapfrogging. 2. The Indian Way - Innovate By Piggybacking. 3. The Chinese Way - Innovate By Copying. Looking at how things have been over the years, China isn't going to stop a strategy that has worked across industries.

plinkplonk 16y ago
"I can't remember where I got this quote from, " probably this paper?( by the Lemelson-MIT program - warning pdf) http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/downloads/sustainable.pdf http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/downloads/sustaina... "Innovation to help achieve the goals of sustainable development can start in many ways, including: “copy-catting” (i.e. Japan, Korea and China first mimicking manufacturing techniques and then becoming world leaders.); “piggy-backing” (i.e. India performing service work for rich countries and adapting information technology to local needs); and “leap-frogging” (skipping over technologies that are inappropriate in a given place and time and adopting more sustainable solutions). .................... “Copycats” imitate ideas, technologies and techniques from other countries and improve and adapt them. During its first few decades, the United States took the key secrets of the Industrial Revolution from England, Scotland and France and launched its own industrial economy. Two centuries later, Japan and then Korea developed by adapting American manufacturing, raising the quality and lowering costs. These days, China is doing it with much success, moving up the innovation ladder at a rapid rate. “Piggybackers” ride on the backs of rich nations by doing more and more of their manufacturing and service work at far lower costs. India is practicing the art of piggybacking right now, using advanced computing and communications technologies to perform software development, tele-services, and even high-level innovation at a fraction of the labor costs compared to performing the same jobs in the United States or Western Europe. A recent study showed that one in ten U.S. software jobs will be exported to places like India and China over the next five years. Finally, “leapfrogs” skip over inappropriate technologies and embrace new ones, such as Finland’s sudden break from Soviet domination and its rapid adoption and development of new inventions like wireless networks. "
- iantimothy 16y ago
  Thanks for this!
jhc 15y ago
I like the list of strategies, but I have to question calling any one of them "The Chinese Way." I mean, here in the US, companies leapfrog, piggyback, and copy all the time -- often within the same product. So you might as well call it all "The American Way." With the size and diversity of the tech industries in Japan, China, and India, we can probably assume they're using The American Way too. Which I think is great (the occasional bit of outright plagiarism aside).
- jff 15y ago
  Well, plenty of American companies copy, producing essentially the same product with their own name on it, often trying to make it look similar to the original--I'm thinking of store-brand food here, "Mountain W" soda from Wegmans for example. The Chinese methods of copying typically seem more deceptive; "Somy" and "Sarnsung" electronics for example, although sometimes the cloners just throw on the "real" name anyway. Of course, this becomes easier when all these companies do their manufacturing in China anyway, and it just takes an unscrupulous manufacturer to make an extra run to sell as "knock-offs". Oh, and there's always this hilarious story: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/technology/01pirate.html http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/technology/01pirate.html I do agree though that the American way is basically to do whatever you need to make a good profit, be it coming up with the next great product (the iPod), ride along with a great product (the companies that make iPod docks/sleeves/cables/whatever), or copy a great product (Zune, and didn't that turn out well?). I just think the American copies are slightly more ethical than some of the Chinese ones.

plinkplonk 16y ago

"I can't remember where I got this quote from, " probably this paper?( by the Lemelson-MIT program - warning pdf) http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/downloads/sustainable.pdf http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/downloads/sustaina... "Innovation to help achieve the goals of sustainable development can start in many ways, including: “copy-catting” (i.e. Japan, Korea and China first mimicking manufacturing techniques and then becoming world leaders.); “piggy-backing” (i.e. India performing service work for rich countries and adapting information technology to local needs); and “leap-frogging” (skipping over technologies that are inappropriate in a given place and time and adopting more sustainable solutions). .................... “Copycats” imitate ideas, technologies and techniques from other countries and improve and adapt them. During its first few decades, the United States took the key secrets of the Industrial Revolution from England, Scotland and France and launched its own industrial economy. Two centuries later, Japan and then Korea developed by adapting American manufacturing, raising the quality and lowering costs. These days, China is doing it with much success, moving up the innovation ladder at a rapid rate. “Piggybackers” ride on the backs of rich nations by doing more and more of their manufacturing and service work at far lower costs. India is practicing the art of piggybacking right now, using advanced computing and communications technologies to perform software development, tele-services, and even high-level innovation at a fraction of the labor costs compared to performing the same jobs in the United States or Western Europe. A recent study showed that one in ten U.S. software jobs will be exported to places like India and China over the next five years. Finally, “leapfrogs” skip over inappropriate technologies and embrace new ones, such as Finland’s sudden break from Soviet domination and its rapid adoption and development of new inventions like wireless networks. "

iantimothy 16y ago
Thanks for this!

jhc 15y ago

I like the list of strategies, but I have to question calling any one of them "The Chinese Way." I mean, here in the US, companies leapfrog, piggyback, and copy all the time -- often within the same product. So you might as well call it all "The American Way." With the size and diversity of the tech industries in Japan, China, and India, we can probably assume they're using The American Way too. Which I think is great (the occasional bit of outright plagiarism aside).

jff 15y ago
Well, plenty of American companies copy, producing essentially the same product with their own name on it, often trying to make it look similar to the original--I'm thinking of store-brand food here, "Mountain W" soda from Wegmans for example. The Chinese methods of copying typically seem more deceptive; "Somy" and "Sarnsung" electronics for example, although sometimes the cloners just throw on the "real" name anyway. Of course, this becomes easier when all these companies do their manufacturing in China anyway, and it just takes an unscrupulous manufacturer to make an extra run to sell as "knock-offs". Oh, and there's always this hilarious story: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/technology/01pirate.html http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/01/technology/01pirate.html I do agree though that the American way is basically to do whatever you need to make a good profit, be it coming up with the next great product (the iPod), ride along with a great product (the companies that make iPod docks/sleeves/cables/whatever), or copy a great product (Zune, and didn't that turn out well?). I just think the American copies are slightly more ethical than some of the Chinese ones.