Knowledge Based Diffusion - A Case Study Experience

This paper builds upon the previous research of Beynon-Davies and Williams (2003) and their knowledge-based model of the diffusion of Information Systems Development Methods (ISDMs). Through the lens of the implementation of a UK government IS development project we consider how a Rapid Application Development approach was unbundled and contextualized and highlight the problems experienced. We further reflect how evidence from this empirical case confirms the efficacy of many of the elements of the diffusion model and suggest a number of directions for extending this framework, enabling better understanding of the practical application of ISDMs within organizations

Influential Article Review - Disseminating Innovation and Technology Knowledge On Social Networks

This paper examines innovation. We present insights from a highly influential paper. Here are the highlights from this paper Peer effects in innovation adoption decisions have been extensively studied. However, the underlying mechanisms of peer effects are generally not explicitly accounted for. Gaps in this knowledge could lead to misestimation of peer effects and inefficient interventions. This study examined the role of two mechanisms—sharing experiences (namely, experience effect) and externalities—in the adoption of an agricultural innovation. By referring to the diffusion process of a new crop in Chinese villages, we developed a simulation model that incorporated experience effect and externality effect on a multiplex network. The model allowed us to estimate the influence of each specific effect and to investigate the interplay of the positive and negative directions of the effects. The main results of simulation experiments were the following: (1) a negative externality effect in the system caused the diffusion of innovation to vary around a middle-level rate, which resulted in a fluctuating diffusion curve rather than a commonly found S-shaped one; (2) in the case of full diffusion, experience effect significantly shaped the diffusion process at the early stage, while externality effect mattered more at the late stage; and (3) network properties (i.e. connectivity, transitivity, and network distance) imposed indirect influence on diffusion through specific peer effects. Overall, our study illustrated the need to understand specific causal mechanisms when studying peer effects. Simulation methods such as agent-based modelling provide an effective approach to facilitate such understanding. For our overseas readers, we then present the insights from this paper in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German

Analysis of the innovation value chain in strategic projects of the Brazilian Army

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare seven case studies of strategic innovation projects of the Brazilian army; these projects present high transformational potential and high investments and are supported by technology and science policies. Design/methodology/approach – The authors present herein multiple case studies in which the authors conduct a documentary analysis of the innovation processes in the Brazilian army, as well as semi-structured interviews conducted with eight servicemen with more than 15 years of working experience. Findings – The results obtained suggest that the innovation process occurs in four stages: creation, selection, development and diffusion of ideas. Practical implications – The research is relevant because it presents how the interaction between the Brazilian army, companies and academia strengthens the innovation ecosystem, stimulating the development of best practices for the management of strategic projects. Originality/value – The main contribution of this study is to present the strategic project management of innovation based on public policies and investment in projects of the Brazilian army, which are drivers for the development of ecosystems that promote the creation and expansion of companies, the diffusion of technological knowledge in universities, and suitable solutions for the military sector

Studying ComputerAided Software Engineering Diffusion in Organizations: Complementing Classical Diffusion Theory With Organizational Learning Perspective

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE), a relatively recent technological innovation, is viewed by both researchers and practitioners as a potential means to increase the productivity (Banker and Kauffman, 1991; Norman and Nunamaker, 1988; Stamps, 1987; Swanson, et al., 1991) and quality (Howard, 1990) of information systems development activities, reduce costs and time spent in systems development (Feuche, 1989; Martin, 1989), and ease the software development and maintenance burden threatening to overwhelm information systems departments (Bachman, 1988; Banker and Kauffman, 1991; Swanson, et al., 1991). Actual experiences with CASE tools, however, have been mixed. While some studies have reported productivity gains (or perception of such gains) from the use of CASE tools (Banker and Kauffman, 1991; Necco, et al., 1989; Norman and Nunamaker, 1988; Swanson, et al., 1991), many others have found that the expected productivity gains are elusive (Card, et al., 1987; Yellen, 1990), or hampered by inadequate training and experience, developer resistance, and increased design and testing time (Norman, et al., 1989; Orlikowski, 1988, 1989, 1993; Vessey, et al., 1992). These contradictory experiences withCASE tools have been difficult to interpret and have puzzled both practitioners and researchers. The inadequacy of conceptual and theoretical foundation of organizational innovation diffusion, primarily based on the classical diffusion theory first espoused by Rogers (1962), have been cited as a prime reason for the contradictory empirical findings (Fichman, 1992). The classical diffusion theory, used in most studies of IT diffusion in general and CASE diffusion in organizations in particular, has many shortcomings. First, the theory operates under the assumption of an unchanging innovation (Brown, 1981). In reality, innovation is a continual process whereby the form and function of the innovation are modified throughout its life (LeonardBaron, 1988; Walton, 1989). Second, the theory emphasizes the demand aspect of diffusion, assuming that everyone has an equal opportunity to adopt; the supply side of the innovation is almost ignored (Brown, 1981). In fact, institutions that supply and market innovations determine to a certain extent who adopts them and when. Third, the classical diffusion theory considers the technological adoption decisions of individuals or organizations without taking into account community issues, assuming that individuals adopt innovations for their own independent use (Fichman, 1992). However, there is evidence that the technology can be subject to network externalities (Katz and Shapiro, 1986; Markus, 1987), which means that the value of use to any single adopter will depend on the size of network of other users. Fourth, the classical theory fails to distinguish between two types of communication involved in the diffusion process: signaling versus knowhow or technical knowledge (Attewell, 1991). It assumes that signaling information takes different lengths of time to get to different potential adopters (according to their centrality to communications networks and links to prior adopters), resulting in the early, middle, and late Scurve adopters, and is therefore viewed as central in explaining the diffusion process. However, one may question whether signaling information is a limiting factor in situations where information about the existence of new technologies and their benefits is widely broadcast by manufacturers\u27 advertisements, by specialized business journals, and by trade associations (Burt 1987). The technical knowledge required to use a complex innovation successfully places far greater demands on potential users and on supplyside organizations than does signaling (Attewell, 1992). If obtaining technical knowledge is slower and more problematic, it can be posited that it plays a more important role in the diffusion of complex technologies than does signaling. Finally, most of the studies of supply-side institutions in innovation conceptualize the diffusion process in terms of knowledge transfer. Attewell (1992) argues that such studies treat the movement of complex technical knowledge under a model of communication most appropriate for signaling. Studies have, however, shown that although one can readily buy the machinery that embodies an innovation, the knowledge needed to use modern production innovations is acquired much more slowly and with considerably more difficulty (Arrow, 1962; Dutton and Thomas, 1985, Ray, 1969; Pavitt, 1985; von Hippel, 1988). Absorbing a new complex technology not only requires modification and mastery of the technology, but it also often requires (frequently unanticipated) modifications in organizational practices and procedures (Stasz, Bikson, and Shapiro, 1986; Johnson and Rice, 1987). Thus, implementing a complex technology requires both individual and organizational learning. Not surprisingly, the findings of past studies of IT diffusion show inconclusive support for the classical diffusion theory in the case of diffusion of complex information technologies (such as CASE) which exhibit user interdependency and impose knowledge burden on users (Fichman, 1992). (When the adoption decision of individuals or organizations depends on the dynamics of community-wide levels of adoption because of network externalities, innovation diffusion is characterized as exhibiting user interdependencies. Similarly, when technologies cannot be adopted as a black box solution but rather impose a substantial knowledge burden on potential adopters, innovation diffusion is characterized to exhibit high knowledge burden.) One interpretation of these findings is that classical diffusion variables by themselves may not be strong predictors of adoption and diffusion of complex technologies at the organizational level (Fichman, 1992). Fichman (1992) recommends that future research on IT diffusion at the organizational level consider other than classical or communications perspective, such as market and infrastructure, economic, and organizational learning perspectives, to account for these inconsistencies. In this study we complement the classical diffusion theory with an organizational learning perspective

Investigation of educator adoption of knowledge media

Human development has occurred against a timeline that has seen the creation of and diffusion of one innovation after another. These innovations range from language to complex computing and information technologies. The latter are assisting with the distribution of information, and extend to the distribution of the human species beyond the planet Earth. From early times, information has been published and mostly for a fee to the publisher. The absorption and use of information has had a high priority in most societies from early times, and has become institutionalised in universities and institutes of technical learning. For most in Western societies, education is now a matter of ‘lifelong learning’. Today, we see higher education institutions, worldwide, adapting their organisational structures and operating procedures and forming strategic alliances with communications content providers and carriers as well as with information technology companies. Modern educational institutes seek productivity and efficiency. Many also seek to differentiate themselves from competitors. Technological convergence is often seen by management to be a saviour in many educational organisations. It is hoped that lower capital and recurrent costs can be achieved, and that competitors in an increasingly globalised industry can be held at bay by strategic use of knowledge media (Eisenstadt, 1995) commonly associated with distance education in the campus setting. Knowledge media set up costs, intellectual property costs and training costs for staff and students are often so high as to make their use not viable for Australian institutes of higher education. Against this backdrop, one might expect greater educator and student use of publisher produced textbooks and digital enhancements to the textbook, particularly those involved in distance education. A major issue is whether or not the timing of instructor adoption of converging information technology and communications technologies aligns with the wishes of both higher education management and government, and with those who seek commercial gain from the diffusion and adoption of such technologies. Also at issue is whether or not it is possible to explain variance in stated intentions to recommend adoption of new learning technologies in higher education and implementation. Will there occur educator recommendation for adoption of individual knowledge media such as World Wide Web access to study materials by students? And what will be the form of this tool and others used in higher education? This thesis reports on more recent changes in the technological environment and seeks to contribute to an understanding of the factors that lead to a willingness, or unwillingness, on the part of higher education instructors, as influencers and content providers, to utilise these technologies. As such, it is a diffusion study which seeks to fill a gap in the literature. Diffusion studies typically focus on predicting adoption based on characteristics of the potential adopter. Few studies examine the relationship between characteristics of the innovation and adoption. Nearly all diffusion studies involve what is termed discontinuous innovation (Robertson, 1971). That is, the innovation involves adoptees in a major departure from previous practice. This study seeks to examine the relationship between previous experience of related technologies and adoption or rejection of dynamically continuous innovation. Continuous and dynamically continuous innovations are the most numerous in the real world, yet they are numerically the least scrutinised by way of academic research. Moreover, the three-year longitudinal study of educators in Australian and New Zealand meets important criteria laid down by researchers Tornatzky and Klein (1982) and Rogers (1995), that are often not met by similar studies. In particular the study examines diffusion as it is unfolding, rather than selectively examining a single innovation and after the fact, thus avoiding a possible pro-innovation bias. The study examines the situation for both ‘all educators’ and ‘marketing / management educators’ alone in seeking to meet the following aim: Establish if intended adopters of specific knowledge media have had more experience of other computer-based technologies than have those not intending to adopt said knowledge media. The analytical phase entails use of factor analysis and discriminant analysis to conclude that it is possible to discriminate adopters of selected knowledge media based on previous use of related technologies. The study does not find any generalised factor that enables such discrimination among educators. Thus the study supports the literature in part, but fails to find generalised factors that enable unambiguous prediction of knowledge media adoption or otherwise among each grouping of educators examined. The implications are that even in the case of related products and services (continuous or dynamically continuous innovation), there is not statistical certainty that prior usage of related products or technologies is related to intentions to use knowledge media in the future. In this regard, the present study might be said to confirm the view that Rogers and Shoemaker\u27s (1971) conceptualisation of perceived innovation characteristics may only apply to discontinuous innovations (Stratton, Lumpkin & Vitell, 1997). The implications for stakeholders such as higher education management is that when seeking to appoint new educators or existing staff to knowledge media project teams, there is some support for the notion that those who already use World Wide Web based technologies are likely to take these technologies into teaching situations. The same claim cannot be made for computer software use in general, nor Internet use in general

Innovation Adoption and Diffusion in Synchronous Tutoring Owls: A Cross-Contextual Case Study Using Diffusion of Innovations Theory

Synchronous online tutoring shares many attributes with face-to-face tutoring such as real-time, document collaboration, and conversational cues provided by audio and video, yet writing center professionals know seemingly little about synchronous tutoring OWLs due to the lack of formal publications about synchronous online tutoring coupled with the prevailing paradigm that seeks to transfer face-to-face tutoring practices to online synchronous tutoring, which overshadows the innovation processes taking place in synchronous OWLs. The purpose of this study was to document emergent practices in the use of two different synchronous tutoring technologies and the processes by which those practices were adopted and implemented in each OWL, using the theoretical framework of Diffusion of Innovations (DOI). A qualitative, case-study methodology was used to explore the contextual-based knowledge of tutors and writing center directors within each case. Several DOI principles emerged to explain the relationship between the prevailing face-to-face paradigm and the selection, reinvention, and adoption of each synchronous tutoring technology and its related tutoring practices. The findings suggest that writing center professionals could benefit from enhancing their understanding of DOI’s social system concept and its symbiotic relationship with the established roles of metaphor and previous experience in synchronous tutoring innovations

Harvesting systems for steep terrain in the Italian Alps: state of the art and future prospects

Steep slope forest operations in Central Europe and in particular in the Alps are strongly related to the adoption of the cable-based harvesting system, even if innovative ground-based harvesting system, even if innovative ground-based harvesting systems have been proposed in the last years. In this context, the present works aim to acquire a thorough knowledge of yarding technologies used by the logging companies of the central Italian Alps, to evaluate their professionality in steep slope forest operations, and to predict the potential diffusion of innovative steep slope harvesting systems in the area. The results show a large number of logging companies (106) working with cable-based systems and in particular with four different standing skyline yarding technologies. The analysis of professionality in using cable cranes shows big differences between the companies. In particular, it identifies a consistent group of companies with a highly mechanized machinery fleet and high skills and experience in steep slope forest operations. These enterprises evidence a still limited potential diffusion of the innovative ground-based harvesting systems in the area, even if it is theoretically possible according to the GIS analysis of morphology and forest road networ

Psychological contract and knowledge management mediated by cultural dynamics

Contact centres are the vital link in the value chain between the organisation and its customers because they offer essential front line sales and services of products. Evaluation of their success can be assessed in terms of customer retention, up selling and the promotion of the brand. This is brought into sharp focus if the centre is outsourced because of the impact of the strategic behaviour of the principal and its relation with its agents. The association of employees with the brand in outsourced operation is not as effective as in captive operations partly because communications from principal to agent are attenuated. Emotional connectivity, diagnostic skill set, requirement gathering, and knowledge are some of the most sensitive qualities required in agents working in the contact centres. These characteristics are found to differ according to whether this is in-house or outsourced operation and affect the psychological contract between the service provider and its employees. In addition, the employees are unlikely to achieve any rewards and are unable to offer any commitments to the customer in an outsourced operation; hence the “psychological contract” is breached. One of the consequences of this breach is on knowledge management. The knowledge of an employee regarding the products and services is lost with that employee’s attrition. Also employees’ then have little interest towards customer service and organizational welfare, which impacts on the customer centric goals of the principal. We argue that the psychological contract between employer and an employee and has positive influence on Knowledge Diffusion, mediated by cultural dynamics, which further contributes to the overall organizational effectiveness. This paper aims to investigate, as a pilot study, the elements of organisational culture and secondly its role in the diffusion of knowledge in contact centres, in-house and outsourced. We demonstrate how by deploying a blend of qualitative methods, it is possible to perceive the effect of each element of the cultural web on diffusion. Finally we propose a hypothesis of the role that Power Distance (Hofstede, 1980) can play, as a proxy for the Psychological Contract to leverage knowledge diffusion

The antecedents of e-learning adoption within Italian corporate universities: A comparative case study

The implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in business education appears to be influenced by a number of organizational issues, such as culture and technological sophistication. However, extant research has had very little to say about the antecedents that shape the adoption and diffusion of ICT across companies. In order to shed light on the phenomenon under investigation, this paper presents a comparative case study between five Italian companies that have instituted a corporate university. By distinguishing companies in typical cases and deviant cases with regard to the extensive use of e-learning technologies, our findings provide some useful insights about the antecedents that make companies more or less prone to employ the new frontiers of technology in their CUs