Cultural drivers in product development: an historical case study

Andrew Wodehouse, Annie Tindley

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

This paper explores the role of cultural factors in product development. While a significant amount of research has outlined the economic and business conditions that make for appropriate innovation strategies, the effects of cultural factors such as institutional arrangements, resource endowments, proprietary functions and social values are less well understood and harder to quantify. A historical example is used to identify types of cultural factors and illustrate how they can interact and affect product development. In this case, the research reviews the steam plough and its use by the Duke of Sutherland for land reclamation in the late 19th century. Despite being vastly expensive and in this case of limited effectiveness, a unique set of cultural factors meant that huge sums of money were invested in the design, development and implementation of these devices. It was ultimately unsuccessful, with many crofters returning to more primitive methods with better results.
Original languageEnglish
Pages263-272
Number of pages10
Publication statusPublished - 18 Sep 2012
EventThe 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Duration: 17 Sep 2012 → 20 Sep 2012

Conference

ConferenceThe 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity
Abbreviated titleICDC2012
CountryUnited Kingdom
CityGlasgow
Period17/09/12 → 20/09/12

Fingerprint

Product development
Land reclamation
Steam
Innovation
Economics
Industry

Keywords

  • product development
  • case study
  • cultural factors
  • steam plough
  • historical

Cite this

Wodehouse, A., & Tindley, A. (2012). Cultural drivers in product development: an historical case study. 263-272. Paper presented at The 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Wodehouse, Andrew ; Tindley, Annie. / Cultural drivers in product development : an historical case study. Paper presented at The 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity, Glasgow, United Kingdom.10 p.
@conference{92a0a809e97246fe8635e5f70a271f48,
title = "Cultural drivers in product development: an historical case study",
abstract = "This paper explores the role of cultural factors in product development. While a significant amount of research has outlined the economic and business conditions that make for appropriate innovation strategies, the effects of cultural factors such as institutional arrangements, resource endowments, proprietary functions and social values are less well understood and harder to quantify. A historical example is used to identify types of cultural factors and illustrate how they can interact and affect product development. In this case, the research reviews the steam plough and its use by the Duke of Sutherland for land reclamation in the late 19th century. Despite being vastly expensive and in this case of limited effectiveness, a unique set of cultural factors meant that huge sums of money were invested in the design, development and implementation of these devices. It was ultimately unsuccessful, with many crofters returning to more primitive methods with better results.",
keywords = "product development, case study, cultural factors, steam plough, historical",
author = "Andrew Wodehouse and Annie Tindley",
year = "2012",
month = "9",
day = "18",
language = "English",
pages = "263--272",
note = "The 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity, ICDC2012 ; Conference date: 17-09-2012 Through 20-09-2012",

}

Wodehouse, A & Tindley, A 2012, 'Cultural drivers in product development: an historical case study', Paper presented at The 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 17/09/12 - 20/09/12 pp. 263-272.

Cultural drivers in product development : an historical case study. / Wodehouse, Andrew; Tindley, Annie.

2012. 263-272 Paper presented at The 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

TY - CONF

T1 - Cultural drivers in product development

T2 - an historical case study

AU - Wodehouse, Andrew

AU - Tindley, Annie

PY - 2012/9/18

Y1 - 2012/9/18

N2 - This paper explores the role of cultural factors in product development. While a significant amount of research has outlined the economic and business conditions that make for appropriate innovation strategies, the effects of cultural factors such as institutional arrangements, resource endowments, proprietary functions and social values are less well understood and harder to quantify. A historical example is used to identify types of cultural factors and illustrate how they can interact and affect product development. In this case, the research reviews the steam plough and its use by the Duke of Sutherland for land reclamation in the late 19th century. Despite being vastly expensive and in this case of limited effectiveness, a unique set of cultural factors meant that huge sums of money were invested in the design, development and implementation of these devices. It was ultimately unsuccessful, with many crofters returning to more primitive methods with better results.

AB - This paper explores the role of cultural factors in product development. While a significant amount of research has outlined the economic and business conditions that make for appropriate innovation strategies, the effects of cultural factors such as institutional arrangements, resource endowments, proprietary functions and social values are less well understood and harder to quantify. A historical example is used to identify types of cultural factors and illustrate how they can interact and affect product development. In this case, the research reviews the steam plough and its use by the Duke of Sutherland for land reclamation in the late 19th century. Despite being vastly expensive and in this case of limited effectiveness, a unique set of cultural factors meant that huge sums of money were invested in the design, development and implementation of these devices. It was ultimately unsuccessful, with many crofters returning to more primitive methods with better results.

KW - product development

KW - case study

KW - cultural factors

KW - steam plough

KW - historical

UR - http://www.icdc2012.org.uk/

M3 - Paper

SP - 263

EP - 272

ER -

Wodehouse A, Tindley A. Cultural drivers in product development: an historical case study. 2012. Paper presented at The 2nd International Conference on Design Creativity, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Access to Document

Related content

Research Output

The role of social networks in agricultural innovation: the Sutherland reclamations and the Fowler steam plough, c.1855-c.1885

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article