Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory study of knowledge management-led technology capability upgradation in latecomer suppliers of complex capital goods in an emerging economy. The paper, therefore, aims to contribute to the extensive literature on catch-up at the firm level by extending our understanding of technological capabilities in complex goods using the knowledge management and product lifecycle frameworks. This paper extends Lall’s (1993) process of different levels of mastery in various functions involved in developing technology capabilities by understanding the nuances of the efficacy of knowledge-based engineering in the development of capabilities. In this study, we demonstrate through an Indian state-owned enterprise (SOE), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, an Indian model of catch-up that positions itself in between the Iranian and Korean model of catching up.