
Understanding Silicon Valley
The Anatomy of an Entrepreneurial Region
Martin Kenney(Editor)
Stanford Business Books,US (Publisher)
Published on 1. August 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-8047-3734-0 (ISBN)
Description
What has made Silicon Valley so productive of new technologies and new firms? How did its pioneering achievements begin-in computer networking, semiconductors, personal computing, and the Internet-and what forces have propelled its unprecedented growth? This collection of nine chapters by contributors from varied disciplines-business, geography, history, regional planning, and sociology-examines the history, development, and entrepreneurial dynamics of Silicon Valley.
Part I, "History," provides context for the Valley's success by exploring its early industrial roots. It traces the development of the electronics industry in Silicon Valley back to the founding of Federal Telegraph in 1908, and discusses the role of defense spending and the relationship with Stanford University in the region's growth. Part II, "Institutions," emphasizes the importance of supporting institutions and practices in helping Valley startups succeed. Four chapters explore the role of law firms in facilitating the formation of new companies, the evolution of the venture capital industry and its role in funding new firms, the importance of labor mobility, and the significance of close interfirm relationships in the success of Silicon Valley companies.
Part III, "General Explanations," presents three different perspectives on the environment that has made Silicon Valley so successful. The first chapter considers Silicon Valley as an ecosystem of interacting institutions, individuals, and a culture that encourages and nurtures entrepreneurship. The second chapter argues that Silicon Valley should not be seen as a region in which relationships are based on civic virtue, but rather one in which trust is based on performance, which makes it uniquely permeable to new ideas and talented individuals. The final chapter contends that institutions specializing in new firm formation are responsible for Silicon Valley's unique ability to foster technological advances.
Part I, "History," provides context for the Valley's success by exploring its early industrial roots. It traces the development of the electronics industry in Silicon Valley back to the founding of Federal Telegraph in 1908, and discusses the role of defense spending and the relationship with Stanford University in the region's growth. Part II, "Institutions," emphasizes the importance of supporting institutions and practices in helping Valley startups succeed. Four chapters explore the role of law firms in facilitating the formation of new companies, the evolution of the venture capital industry and its role in funding new firms, the importance of labor mobility, and the significance of close interfirm relationships in the success of Silicon Valley companies.
Part III, "General Explanations," presents three different perspectives on the environment that has made Silicon Valley so successful. The first chapter considers Silicon Valley as an ecosystem of interacting institutions, individuals, and a culture that encourages and nurtures entrepreneurship. The second chapter argues that Silicon Valley should not be seen as a region in which relationships are based on civic virtue, but rather one in which trust is based on performance, which makes it uniquely permeable to new ideas and talented individuals. The final chapter contends that institutions specializing in new firm formation are responsible for Silicon Valley's unique ability to foster technological advances.
Reviews / Votes
"This book is an example of excellent empirical research, deep scholarship, tested and testable hypotheses, all conducted with a substantial cross-disciplinary flavor. Its deep engagement with the subject has provided evidence to support some of my theories, challenged others, and directed me to new grounds for speculation. I think it will do this for anyone prepared to read it closely."-from the foreward by John Seely Brown "This is an impressive and useful collection of essays, and certainly one of the best academic treatments of the evolution of Silicon Valley."-Enterprise & Society "A unifying introduction by Martin Kenney plus an up-to-date 15-page bibliography make this book an outstanding contribution to the literature on Silicon Valley."-Business HistoryMore details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Palo Alto
United States
Publishing group
Stanford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
1 map
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
485 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8047-3734-0 (9780804737340)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Martin Kenney is Professor of Human and Community Development at the University of California, Davis, and a Research Associate at the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy. He is, most recently, co-author of Beyond Mass Production: The Japanese System and Its Transfer to the United States.
Content
Contents Seely-Brown John 1. KENNEY MARTIN Part I: 2. STURGEON TIMOTHY J. 3. LESLIE STUART W. Part II: 4. SUCHMAN MARK C. 5. KENNEY MARTIN FLORIDA RICHARD 6. ANGEL DAVID P. 7. SAXENIAN ANNALEE Part III: 8. BAHRAMI HOMA EVANS STUART 9. COHEN STEPHEN S. FIELDS GARY 10. KENNEY MARTIN VON BURG URS