Managing technological transition from old to new technology: case of Fanuc's successful transition

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide new practical viewpoints and a framework regarding the management of technology transition from old to new technology through an in‐depth case study of Fanuc. Design/methodology/approach – Due to the exploratory nature of this research and our interest in identifying key factors that affect the progress of technological transition, the authors selected the grounded theory style of data interpretation. Findings – This case study identifies three key factors common to Fanuc's two major technological transitions and provides a new framework for the successful transition. Originality/value – This paper provides new practical viewpoints regarding the management of technology transition from old to new technology.