This paper blends the previous work of Prof Lazonick on the innovative enterprise ¿ which introduced the three necessary social conditions of strategic control, financial commitment and organisational integration ¿ and that of Dr Prencipe on Rolls-Royce plc and its technological capabilities, in a new co-developed approach that draws on Teece¿s emerging work on `dynamic capabilities¿. The approach shows that Rolls-Royce has maintained its strong international position despite early setbacks and the general weakness of British high-tech manufacturing, and why this has happened.