Modes of technological leapfrogging: Five case studies from China

This paper examines the current literature on management of technology (MOT) and stresses the importance of keeping up with the speed of the technological change and the emerging new global paradigms of the business environment. The focus is on the concept and mode of technological leapfrogging, which is an important element of the technology strategy of firms. Based upon the principles of MOT, nine propositions grounded on document-analysis and case study are proposed. Five typical cases of technological catching-up have been selected to illustrate the mode of technological leapfrogging to validate our work. All the case examples have taken place in China. We established “technological leapfrogging” through the analysis of technological innovation theory, and the study of individual and comparative cases, as well as model matching and competitive test of the nine propositions.