Modelling interface standards battles : A retroductive system dynamics approach

Competition between technology standards for market share is a complicated phenomenon where a large number of factors have an impact on the outcome according to the literature. Inevitably studying their influence, for example the timing of market entry, is a challenge. The generic simulation model presented here builds on previous work and is applied to four cases of standard competition from the literature. Following a retroductive research design, reproducing the results of each case the model provides support for the soundness of the underlying theoretical framework used to analyse the case studies. It thus increases the confidence in its validity and provides a formal basis for further empirical and theoretical work.