HEAT-TRANSFER RESEARCH IN GENERAL-ELECTRIC, 1910-1960 - EXAMPLES OF THE PRODUCT-DRIVEN INNOVATION CYCLE

The article discusses GE's experiences in heat transfer to explain the product-driven cycle. It shows how the operation of the cycle depends not merely on technical considerations but also on the working environment of engineers and scientists - in particular, on the way a corporation organizes technical work, and the professional maturity of engineering disciplines. And it shows how the cycle may begin with one product, but may end with a very different one. Indeed, the history of a half-century's involvement at GE with heat transfer began with stoves and Thermos bottles, and ended with improvements to products that ranged from light bulbs to jet engines. The three cycles discussed are: electric heating devices to light bulbs, monitor top to turbosuperchargers; steam turbine locomotives to air conditioners.