Understanding the technology development process at the early standardization stage: The case of cognitive radio

This research is aimed at developing a document content analysis method to be applied in studies of standardization and technology development. The proposed method integrates two theoretical frameworks: the co-evolutionary technology development framework and the "D-N-S" (Design, Negotiation, Sense-making) framework for anticipatory standardizing. At the backdrop of complex and diversified landscape of science and R&D efforts in the technology domain, and the repeated criticism of the weak link between R&D initiatives and standardization, it is argued that the method offered in this work helps to better understand the internal dynamics of the technology development process at the early stage of standardization or pre-standardization, which, in turn, can help mobilize and direct the R&D initiatives. To demonstrate the practical usefulness of the proposed method, this paper conducts a content analysis of the research contributions presented in the COST Action IC0905 "Techno-Economic Regulatory Framework for Radio Spectrum Access for Cognitive Radio/Software Defined Radio" (COST-TERRA).