A crash R&D program by one firm cannot replicate a successful technology developed by another firm when research findings cumulate. This is an example of
A) social complexity.
B) path dependency.
C) physical uniqueness.
D) causal ambiguity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Path dependency refers to how the decisions one faces for any given circumstance are limited by the decisions one has made in the past, even though past circumstances may no longer be relevant. In this context, the inability to replicate a successful technology due to cumulative research findings suggests that the development of the technology followed a specific path that cannot be easily retraced or duplicated by another firm starting from a different point.

A Crash R&D Program by One Firm Cannot Replicate a Successful