Parts of a Technological System and its Phases that Make Up its History

The Evolution of Large Technological Systems:

What Makes Up a Technological System and the Phases of the History of Technological Systems

By, Thomas Hughes

One of the main technological systems that Hughes discusses is electrical systems.   All systems are made up of physical artifacts.  An electrical system includes physical artifacts such as turbogenerators and power lines.

Another part of technological system is organizations.  The electrical systems are produced by organizations, such as manufacturing firms.

A third part of technological systems are components labeled scientific, such as books, articles, and research programs. 

These are three interlocking parts of a technnological systems. 

There are then different phases that make up a technological system's history. 

These phases are: invention, development, innovation, transfer, growth, competition, consolidation, and momentum.

These phases are not sequential, but they can overlap and backtrack.