System architecture and innovation - software and hardware integration in car navigation systems

Abstract

This paper attempts to clarify how the integration of software and hardware is related to product systems and product development organization in the IT age. As a framework for analyzing the effect of integration, we will examine the influence of software on product functions, product development organization and product innovation by introducing the concept of system architecture, which represents the nature of a system, and is defined as a combination of hardware and software. As a particular case, Japanese car navigation market is analyzed. We discuss how both software and hardware have open architecture dynamics, how those dynamics have several trajectories, and have a major impact not only on cooperation between product development structure and external organization, but also on innovation. Hardware: GPS Receiver, CPU Software: KIWI, KIWI-W Close Open Hardware 0-7803-9139

Digital-physical product development: towards a tentative theory

“…This can also prevent the situation where issues are solved in software that was better solved in hardware . Digital platforms (Itoh, 2005) and digital-physical product architectures are developing, which help to separate physical and software development. conclude that digitalphysical product development requires a balance of boundary spanning activities; currently, however, there is no theory on the right balance.…”