Competitive investment strategies in adoption of new technology with a further new technology anticipated

Abstract

In dynamic uncertain environments, the investment timing of the firm about adopting the existing new technology is influenced by the rival’s actions and technological progress. This paper employs option games approach to present a simplified duopoly continuous time model of technology adoption. In the model, the irreversible investment in adoption of the existing new technology is in strategic competitive circumstances and facing the threat of a further new technology after the competition setting is established. The purpose of the paper is to examine the effect of technological displacement on firms’ strategic investment. The results show that rapid displacement of the technology encourages the leader’s investment and discourages the follower’s investment. Comparing with the optimal timing without the expectation of a further new technology, the firm hastens to invest when no firm has invested; however, once one firm has invested first, the firm will delay its investment. Using mixed strategy analysis, competitive investment strategies with sequential exercise and simultaneous exercise are derived.

Keywords

Option games / technology adoption / displacement effect

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