Managing the Change of Architecture Knowledge

With the advent of new technologies, one successful case of technological transition is Fanuc Ltd., a company that successfully introduced Intel MPUs (Microprocessor Units) to NC (Numerical Control) machines in 1975 and has since continued to achieve sustained growth. This adoption of MPU caused a change in NC architecture. Through an in-depth case study of Fanuc, we show how adopting MPU to an NC system destroys the usefulness of accumulated hard-wired architectural knowledge in that firm due to changes in architecture. We also show how Fanuc developed the new architectural knowledge necessary for MPU-based soft-wired NC systems. This study is not an analysis of the causes of failure, but rather focuses on the aspects of successful management of architectural change. By analyzing and studying a successful case, we can gain valuable insights into managing architectural knowledge.