Publication Type

PhD Dissertation

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

4-2022

Abstract

The AI-based robot industry is a product of AI technology combined with traditional robotics. From the literature review on innovation management and AI-based robots, few scholars have studied the development path and internal mechanism of the AI-based robot industry. Focusing on the current specific micro-enterprises, meso-phenomena, and macro-systems, this paper studies the innovation management paths of enterprises in detail using research methods including literature review, case analysis, and questionnaire interview.

This paper focuses on the TO C/B application product enterprises in the downstream of the industry chain, and the following conclusions are drawn:1) The first principle of innovation management of AI-based robot enterprises is the “effective” transformation from technological innovation to product innovation. 2) To promote "effective" transformation from technological innovation to product innovation is essentially is a set of innovation management combinations focused on technological innovation management, product innovation management, and resource innovation. 3) During the explosive and enthusiastic phases of paradigm innovation, AI-based robot enterprises must follow the three principles of product innovation, namely "pain points", "cross-border", and "standing on the shoulders of giants", and five principles of "pain points" and "rigid demand". 4) The "hard" + "soft" DNA of AI-based robots includes a genetic conflict that must be solved in technological innovation management. 5) The internal technological innovation path of the organization generally shows a trend of “unity-division-combination”, while external technological innovation needs a right window of opportunity which could be modular integration emerging from internal technological innovation or the collaborative stage of technological paradigm innovation when external resource innovation can be selected for external engineering technology innovation. 6) The maturity of the AI-based robots industry is fundamentally marked by the competition of “soft” power. “More intelligent than human” will replace “dominant design” to be a symbol of maturity of AI-based robot industry segmentation, and it is also the ultimate goal of enterprise innovation management. 7) Once AI technology has completed the “breakthrough" transformation from a given industry segment to the public and the answer to the ultimate question that “Do you think robot products/services will replace human in the XX scenario” is yes, the “inflection point” of industrial maturity is realistic.

This research is likely to make the following theoretical contributions: Firstly, it will establish an innovation management research perspective that takes the paradigm innovation cycle framework as the starting point. Secondly, it emphasizes that the first principle of innovation management is the “effectiveness” of transformation to product innovation. Thirdly, it is the first research to propose global thinking in AI-based robot innovation management. Fourthly, it indicates the “inflection point” of technological innovation, product innovation, and even development path of the AI-based robot industry - efficiency.

Keywords

AI-based robots, Innovation management, Evolution research, Technological innovation management; Product innovation management, Resource innovation management, Global thinking, Inflection point theory, "Hard" + "soft" DNA

Degree Awarded

Doctor of Bus Admin (CKGSB)

Discipline

Strategic Management Policy | Technology and Innovation

Supervisor(s)

GENG, Xuesong

Publisher

Singapore Management University

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Author

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