Understanding “systemic problems” or “blocking mechanisms” in emerging technologies and industries has been a major issue in Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) research. Despite this literature’s long tradition, we show that a more accurate definition enhances the TIS framework explanatory power for a higher diversity of empirical cases. We posit that conceptual improvement depends on addressing the unclear or incomplete definitions and the lack of explanation of interdependent systemic problems and blocking mechanisms. To this end, we apply a mechanism-based approach to explore these conceptual limitations. As a result, we propose a causal conceptual framework that understands blocking mechanisms as causal pathways linking systemic problems (causes) to poor system functioning (outcomes). We also argue that detailing the causal pathway in activities and respective actors better explains system malfunctioning. Finally, we discuss patterns of interdependencies among systemic problems and blocking mechanisms and implications for methodologies and for informing policy.

理解新兴技术和产业中的“系统问题”或“阻碍机制”一直是技术创新系统（TIS）研究的主要问题。尽管该文献具有悠久的传统，但我们表明，更准确的定义可以增强TIS框架的解释能力，以提高经验案例的多样性。我们认为，概念上的改进取决于解决不清楚或不完整的定义以及对相互依存的系统性问题和阻碍机制缺乏解释的问题。为此，我们采用了一种基于机制的方法来探索这些概念上的局限性。因此，我们提出了一个因果概念框架，该框架将阻塞机制理解为将系统性问题（原因）与不良系统功能（结果）联系起来的因果路径。我们还认为，详细说明活动和各个参与者中的因果关系可以更好地解释系统故障。最后，我们讨论了系统性问题与阻止机制之间的相互依存模式，以及对方法论和政策制定的影响。