An empirical examination of critical barriers in transitions between technology push and demand pull strategies in manufacturing organizations
| Pages | 257-277 |
| Published date | 09 July 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-10-2017-0040 |
| Date | 09 July 2018 |
| Author | Anuj Singla,APS Sethi,Inderpreet Singh Ahuja |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
An empirical examination of
critical barriers in transitions
between technology push and
demand pull strategies in
manufacturing organizations
Anuj Singla
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandigarh Engineering College,
Landran, India
APS Sethi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, India, and
Inderpreet Singh Ahuja
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjabi University, Patiala, India
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine critical barriers in transitions between technology push (TP)
and demand pull (DP) strategies in Indian manufacturing industries for accomplishing sustainable development.
Design/methodology/approach –The factors that affect the transitions have been extracted and analyzed
using factor analysis technique. For the purpose, various critical barriers are grouped together based on their
relevance to TP-DP strategies. The responses to critical barriers have been collected from different Indian
manufacturing organizations practicing TP-DP strategies, using a well-framed TP-DP questionnaire. Further,
the responses are analyzed using factor analysis which improved the data interpretation.
Findings –Four latent factors were extracted from critical barriers and revealed that the manufacturing
organizations face these barriers in transitions between TP-DP strategies. The recognition of the outcomes of
critical barriers has been perceived to be substantial in the present context.
Originality/value –The research concludes that TP-DP strategies in Indian manufacturing industries
encounter relevant critical barriers for accomplishing sustainable development. The outcomes of the study
will help TP-DP practitioners, HR executives and organizational managers in manufacturing companies to
develop clear understanding about the significant TP-DP strategies to be followed comprehensively for
realization of sustainable development. The manufacturing organizations will be able to formulate and
express their policies and issues in a more pertinent manner. Hence, the knowledge obtained from the
empirical examination of critical barriers in transitions between TP and DP strategies will be helpful in
improving the overall performance of manufacturing industries involved in the present study.
Keywords Manufacturingorganizations, Factor analysis, Technology push, Demand pull, Critical barriers
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
A number of definitions are associated to technology, majority of which gives an account of
manufacturing andproduct development industries. Martino (1983) stated that technology is
overall utilization of means to provide basiccommodities required for corporal sustainability
and contentment. Zhao and Reisman (1992) contributed to the definition of technology as per
social planning, management and business. On the whole, technology denotes a vast area of
persistent application of dimensions of the real life. As per Gregson (1994) new technology is
frequently used to displace the old one. Technology is a stimulant for change. However,
the change that results, can be observed separately (as positive or negative) by different
individuals or groups depending upon their approach with reference to cha nge.
World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 15 No. 3, 2018
pp. 257-277
© Emerald PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI10.1108/WJSTSD-10-2017-0040
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
257
An empirical
examination of
critical barriers
The technologypush (TP) strategy drives the product coordination philosophy of “if we build
it, they will adoptit”owing to a number of fields. The TP strategiesset up a discussion among
technology managers about the fundamental principles and their driving forces. It was
inferred that innovation is motivated by science and that consecutively stimulate technology
(Chidamber and Kon, 1994).
Demand pull (DP) (market need) is a recognized need that stimulates innovation with the
help of research and development (R&D). The industries manufacture the required products,
do its marketing and fulfill the demand of its consumers. Moreover, DP inflation is likely to
emerge when total demand overtakes total supply in an economy. This is broadly perceived
as too much money chasing too few goods. The commitment of fulfilling the demand in time
plays a substantial role in raising the standard of manufacturing firms and their overall
sustainable development. As per Sastry (2011) business being the most significant sector,
is the main strength of a market. Moreover, the industries impact the economy and
employment, and the sustainable development favors business as well as society at large.
As a result, numerous national companies have become global and strongly contended with
established multinational players in the market. Yadav (2012) stated that trade is an
essential benchmark among different aspects of globalization. It incorporates ever changing
plans of the industries which are more extensive as compared to the previous formats.
Undoubtedly, numerous definitions of sustainable development are suggested over the
time. World Commission on Environment and Development stated that, Sustainable
development is a strategy of progress in which the utilization of assets, command on
investments, arrangement of technological development and corporate revolution, are made
persistent with subsequent and existing demand. Global rise in DP along with industrial
revolution leads to competitive sustainable manufacturing. Sustainable development is
escalating as a world-wide key perception that we must recognize to accommodate
environmental,socio-economical and technological challenges. The progress of social security
and sustainable development can only be achieved if humans are able to make overall
employments and better living conditions for human ethical quality ( Jovane et al., 2008).
The manufacturing industries have witnessed many challenges in last few decades,
involving drastic changes in innovative capability, corporate strategy, export orientation,
transforming capabilities, customer satisfaction and other related issues. These challenges
are compelling the manufacturing organizations to adopt innovative methodology to
develop new products, and to exploit sustainable manufacturing tools and techniques
efficiently. In other words, it is a matter of doing more with less, i.e. increasing productivity
meanwhile utilizing minor resources and creating negligible waste (Bogue, 2014).
As per TP-DP practitioners and industrial managers, the field of TP-DP is continuously
growing. The interactions among TP-DP strategies depend on industrial life cycles and
status of local market (Choi, 2017). TP-DP strategies in manufacturing organizations bear
complications due to critical barriers in transitions between them for achieving sustainable
development. The focus of the present study is to analyze critical barriers in transitions
between TP-DP strategies using factor analysis technique. Four factors have been extracted
for various critical barriers by applying factor analysis on the responses obtained from
92 manufacturing organizations. In the present context, it has been investigated that the
extracted factors of critical barriers have substantial effect on transitions between various
TP-DP strategies.
2. Literature review
Today, universal rivalry has entered each and every portion of the planet and field of
business (Koberg et al., 2003). Prosperity is created through industrialization and
development of economy is well recognized by growth of manufacturing corporations.
Moreover, the prosperity of a country depends on the excellence of its production capacity
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