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Designing for Innovation: Cooperation and Competition in English Cotton, Silk, and Pottery Firms, 1750–1860

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2019

Catherine Casson  and
Mark Dodgson
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Abstract

The ability to combine technological innovation with innovation in product design has been recognized by business historians as an important characteristic of a successful business. This article examines the use of product design as a source of competitive advantage by leading firms in the Manchester cotton, Macclesfield silk, and Staffordshire pottery sectors in the period 1750–1860. Four design strategies are identified: copying (direct imitation and adaptation), commissioning, capacity building, and collaboration. Distinction is made between proactive firms, which innovated whenever there was an opportunity, and reactive firms, which innovated only when necessary.

Keywords

Manchester cotton sectorMacclesfield silk sectorStaffordshire pottery sectordesign strategiesinnovationtextile historyfashion history
Type
Research Article
Information
Business History Review , Volume 93 , Issue 2 , Summer 2019 , pp. 247 - 273
Copyright
Copyright © The President and Fellows of Harvard College 2019 

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Footnotes

We would like to thank three anonymous referees. Thanks are also due for feedback and access to archives from Jonathan Aylen, Bolton Museums, Cheshire Record Office, Alice Dolan, Richard Hills, Peter Jones, Manchester Archives, Stan Metcalfe, participants at the 2016 ABH conference, Maryam Philpott, Andrew Popp, Mary Rose, Stan Siebert, Philip Sykas, and Anna Rhodes and Ron Thorn at Macclesfield Silk Museum.

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