Innovative IT Use and Innovating with IT: A Study of the Motivational Antecedents of Two Different Types of Innovative Behaviors

The paper distinguishes two different types of innovative behaviors with information technology (IT): innovative IS use (IU) and innovating with IT (IwIT). While the former focuses on changing the technology and the work process to better support one’s existing work goals, the latter focuses on using IT to develop new work-related goals and outcomes. Drawing on Parker’s theory of proactive behavior, the paper compares the motivational antecedents and consequences of these two innovative behaviors with IT. Our model hypothesizes that three generic types of motivation differentially affect IwIT vs. IU. The paper also explores the moderating role of slack resources on the effect of motivation on the two innovative behaviors with IT. Data from a survey of 427 IT users from North American companies show that social motivation affects IwIT (but not IU); intrinsic motivation is positively related to IU (but not IwIT), and internalized extrinsic motivation affects both IU and IwIT. Further, the results indicate that the moderating role of slack resources on different motivational paths is not a one-size-fits-all effect, that is, IS slack resources only moderates the relationship between intrinsic motivation and IwIT. We also differentiated the consequences of IwIT from IU. The post hoc analysis shows that IwIT is significantly related to individual mindfulness at work, but IU is not. The paper contributes to IS research by offering a rich conceptualization of IwIT and examining its motivational antecedents and consequences, compared to IU

The Role of IT Feature Recombinations in Individuals\u27 Innovative Use of IT

Innovations do not emerge in isolation but are to some extent recombinations of previously existing building blocks. In this paper, we build on the recombination processes feature set broadening and deepening to show how individuals innovate with IT. We employ a qualitative research setting using a rich case of a self-tracker, who constantly changed his use of a stress tracking device from simple meditation to, eventually, a creative use configuration allowing him to sense stress at work, address prejudicial work-related behavioral patterns, and increase his work-related performance. Our preliminary analysis show that innovating with IT operates in constant cycles of feature set broadening and deepening, with broadening preceding the deepening. By linking feature set broadening and deepening to existing tasks as well as to new deliverables, we intend to clarify the relationships and transitions between different configurations of innovative use and show which patterns of innovative use occur over time

Innovation in Student Affairs: The Influence of Individual and Organizational Factors on Programmatic and Technological Change

The purpose of this paper was to explore the influence individual and organizational factors exerted on technological innovations, programmatic innovations and combined technological and programmatic innovations. Student affairs divisions in Comprehensive I colleges and universities constituted the administrative unit examined. The two types of program innovations examined were substance abuse prevention/education programs and retention/academic support programs. The technological innovations examined were financial aid computerized award calculation and computerized career counseling. The individual factors examined were professionalism, gender and age of the chief student affairs officer. The organizational factors were vertical, horizontal and combined vertical and horizontal complexity, centralization and size. Size was measured as student body size, a combined staff size within the four units examined and combined student body and staff size. The method of study was survey. One hundred chief student affairs officers were surveyed for responses about their institutions\u27 innovations and the factors of professionalism, age, gender, centralization, complexity and size. The findings were: (1) There was a significant relationship between professionalism and technological innovation. The more professional the chief student affairs officer was, the more technological innovation was reported. (2) There was a significant relationship between age and combined programmatic and technological innovation. The higher the age of the chief student affairs officer, the lower the level of combined technological and programmatic innovation was reported. (3) There was a significant relationship between complexity and programmatic innovation. The more complexity present, the more programmatic innovation was reported. This significance held across the three different measures of horizontal, vertical and combined complexity. (4) There was a significant relationship between complexity and combined technological and programmatic innovation. The more complexity, the more combined technological and programmatic innovation was reported. This significance held across vertical and combined measures for complexity. (5) There was a significant relationship between the size and programmatic innovation. The larger the size, the more programmatic innovation was reported. This significance held for staff size and combined size measures. The major conclusion was that different factors may impact programmatic innovation differently than technological innovation or combined programmatic and technological innovation. Future study of innovation should consider these differences

Police Knowledge Exchange: Full Report 2018

[Executive Summary] This report was commissioned to explore the enablers and barriers to sharing within and between police forces and between police forces and partners, including the public. This was completed from an interdisciplinary review of international literature covering sharing, knowledge exchange, learning and organisational learning. The literature broke down into four main factors; who, why, what and how. An introduction to the literature is presented with ‘Who’ is sharing which considers both personal identity and different institutional issues. The ‘Why’ literature covers issues of cultural and community motivators and barriers. The ‘What’ segment reviews concepts of data, information and knowledge and related legislative issues. Finally, the ‘how’ section spans face to face sharing approaches to technologies that produce both enablers and barriers. A series of 42 in-depth interviews and focus groups were completed and combined with 47 survey responses . The aim of the interviews, focus groups and survey was to show perceptions and beliefs around knowledge sharing from a small sample across policing in order to complement the findings from the literature review. The survey was adapted from a standardised questionnaire (Biggs, 1987). The Biggs questionnaire focused on what motivated students to learn and how they approached their learning. Our adapted survey looked at what motivated police to share, and how they approached sharing. The responses showed a trend, across the police, towards a motivation for sharing to develop a deeper understanding of issues. However, the approaches and the strategies they used to share with others, which were primarily driven by achieving and surface approaches (to get promoted and get the job done). According to Biggs (1987) this could leave them discontented as they never progress to a deeper understanding of issues. Scaffolding sharing within the police through processes that are clearly defined, effective and valued could help to overcome these issues. Within the interviews and focus group findings a similar structured approach to sharing was adopted. Within the ‘who’ section some key aspects around personal relationships, reciprocity and reputation were identified. The ‘why’ the police share was one of the largest discussion points. Not only was there a deep motivation to solve key policing issues there was an approach of reciprocity. Police sharing was deeply motivated to support ‘good practice’ in the prevention and detection of crime. However, a sharing barrier was identified in the parity of value given to different types of knowledge for example between professional judgement and research evidence knowledge. Sharing was achieved when there were reciprocal benefits, in particular with personal networks or face to face sharing which was noted as ‘safe’. Again, this was inhibited by misunderstandings around the ‘risks’ of sharing, frequently attributed to data protection legislation; producing cautious reactions and as an avoidance tactic to save time and effort sharing. However, a divide was noted between technical users and those who avoided any online systems for sharing; often due to poorly designed systems and a lack of confidence in how to use systems. The police culture was identified as being risk-adverse, and competitive due to multiple factors, a lack of supported time to share, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) reviews and promotion criteria. The result was perceived to be a poor cultural ability to learn from mistakes and a likelihood to repeat errors. A set of strategic recommendations are given and include the use of a sharing authorised professional practice for HMIC reviews, sharing networks and training. A further set of operational recommendations are given such as; sharing impact cases for evidence based practice, data sharing officers and evaluating mechanisms for sharing. This full report is supported by the Police Knowledge Exchange Summary Report 2018 which gives an overview of the findings and recommendations

An Exploration of User Innovation from Inside the Firms: Uncovering Internal Dynamics and Embedded Lead Userness

openThis thesis contributes to the UI research by suggesting that firms need to put more emphasize on the internal dynamics by defining and boosting their strategic, organizational, and managerial potentials. At the same time, it suggests that the human side of the collaboration which deals with individual, choices, abilities, and motivations needs more attention in particular concerning lead userness. Based on the three papers, this PhD thesis aims to enhance our understanding of different perspectives of user innovation by providing a categorization of both external-to-the-firm and internal-to-the-firm themes and tackling the embedded userness. The first paper aims to scrutinize the “locus” of UI meaning to distinguish between studies focusing on external-to-the-firm conditions of UI. By conducting a systematic literature review , this study explores the existing studies focusing on external-to-the-firm conditions of UI (user’s types, users’ roles, enabling platforms, etc.) and papers focusing on internal-to-the-firm conditions of UI, such as strategies, capabilities and organizational routines that trigger and support UI processes. While current studies tackle different angles of the UI mostly from an external-to-the-firm perspective, this study identifies two general streams of research from both perspectives from inside and outside of the firm and provides a complete categorization of different aspects and themes of each perspective. The second paper investigates internal dynamics of firm–users collaboration by bridging the literature on user innovation and the literature on open innovation. Based on a systematic literature review, this study provides a more detailed categorization of internal-to-the firm conditions. The findings of this study highlight the precise sub-streams of each internal dynamic group including strategic, organizational, and managerial dynamics. Finally, based on the findings of the second study associated with dearth of research on micro-foundations or in other words human side of UI, the third study examines the individual-level antecedents of embedded lead userness. More specifically, based on the data coming from collected from 554 employees belonging to 42 Italian and Croatian small and medium-sized companies, this study inspects the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and ELU when mediated by creative bootlegging. The findings show that employees who show self-motivation and conviction in entrepreneurial activities also tend to commit (enjoy carving out some time to be committed) to unofficial innovation projects which in turn make them become more curious and expert about the products and to act as lead users. Overall, the findings of the thesis are important to further advance the innovation management research and in particular UI research. Taken together, these findings shed more light on the various processes, roles, decisions as well as human and psychological arguments that underpin the use of UI in firms. The thesis concludes by summarizing the key theoretical and managerial contributions of the three papers and then the limitations and avenues for further research on UI is provided.This thesis contributes to the UI research by suggesting that firms need to put more emphasize on the internal dynamics by defining and boosting their strategic, organizational, and managerial potentials. At the same time, it suggests that the human side of the collaboration which deals with individual, choices, abilities, and motivations needs more attention in particular concerning lead userness. Based on the three papers, this PhD thesis aims to enhance our understanding of different perspectives of user innovation by providing a categorization of both external-to-the-firm and internal-to-the-firm themes and tackling the embedded userness. The first paper aims to scrutinize the “locus” of UI meaning to distinguish between studies focusing on external-to-the-firm conditions of UI. By conducting a systematic literature review , this study explores the existing studies focusing on external-to-the-firm conditions of UI (user’s types, users’ roles, enabling platforms, etc.) and papers focusing on internal-to-the-firm conditions of UI, such as strategies, capabilities and organizational routines that trigger and support UI processes. While current studies tackle different angles of the UI mostly from an external-to-the-firm perspective, this study identifies two general streams of research from both perspectives from inside and outside of the firm and provides a complete categorization of different aspects and themes of each perspective. The second paper investigates internal dynamics of firm–users collaboration by bridging the literature on user innovation and the literature on open innovation. Based on a systematic literature review, this study provides a more detailed categorization of internal-to-the firm conditions. The findings of this study highlight the precise sub-streams of each internal dynamic group including strategic, organizational, and managerial dynamics. Finally, based on the findings of the second study associated with dearth of research on micro-foundations or in other words human side of UI, the third study examines the individual-level antecedents of embedded lead userness. More specifically, based on the data coming from collected from 554 employees belonging to 42 Italian and Croatian small and medium-sized companies, this study inspects the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and ELU when mediated by creative bootlegging. The findings show that employees who show self-motivation and conviction in entrepreneurial activities also tend to commit (enjoy carving out some time to be committed) to unofficial innovation projects which in turn make them become more curious and expert about the products and to act as lead users. Overall, the findings of the thesis are important to further advance the innovation management research and in particular UI research. Taken together, these findings shed more light on the various processes, roles, decisions as well as human and psychological arguments that underpin the use of UI in firms. The thesis concludes by summarizing the key theoretical and managerial contributions of the three papers and then the limitations and avenues for further research on UI is provided.Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze manageriali e attuarialiopenGhasemzadeh, Khatere

Corporate strategy formulation in the chemical industry: with special reference to bromine

This study is an inter-disciplinary investigation into the nature of corporate strategy and the forces shaping industrial development with particular reference to a science based industry such as the chemical industry. The central objective of the study 1S to analyse the critical role of technological change as a major force ln strategic planning - a largely neglected area in the literature on corporate strategy. Traditional writings on corporate strategy tend to be self limiting 1n that they focus on a "single profit objective" and associated with this is the heavy emphasis placed on acquisition strategies in order to realize managerial profit objectives. The present study suggests that much more attention should be given to other than profit objectives, the conflict between them and their reconciliation. For this purpose a synthesis of the behavioural model of the firm and the managerial discretion model is proposed. The method uses four types of standards - historical, external, intentional and innovative - 1n setting multiple objectives at a target and at a constraint level. In this target constraint approach the difference between the two levels determines a margin within which conflicting claims of multiple objectives can be reconciled and a consensus level can thereby be reached. The study shows that the existence of a gap between the innovative and the other standards signifies that growth will mainly come through technological change. Theoretical aspects of technological change, in particular the economic and sociological approaches to diffusion of innovation are also discussed with special reference to the chemical industry. Against this background i i a generalized growth pattern for basic chemicals is developed and this pattern identifies the competitive and innovative modes of growth. In the competitive mode the individual chemical producer seeks to increase the level of usage of his material in its established end use categories. In the innovative mode, on the other hand, growth is sought by innovating new end use categories. Given a specialized producer willing to grow in his area, the competitive mode is characterized by the fact that marketing, financial and organizational measures can compensate for scientific and technological weaknesses, whereas intensive research and development activities are all important in the innovative mode . . The discussion finally leads to the formulation of a method of pinpointing technologically based opportunities. This method~ the technological growth tree, is developed as a managerial tool for mapping out strategic opportunities for the chemical industrialist. The tree consists of two principal branches, technological expansion and technological diversification, which subdivide into relevant strategies and tactics. Technological expansion strategies can be utilized in the competitive mode while the technological diversification strategies are appropriate in the innovative mode. The usefulness of the technological growth tree, in particular its diversification strategies, is illustrated by reference to the bromine industry where application of the former has resulted in a number of potential opportunities. These require further research and development efforts for their realization. ·Resulting from this, the principles outlined in the present study can also be applied in other science based industries for strategic planning

Family Firms in the Developing Context: Essays on Internationalization, Women, and Generational Changes

Despite a plethora of research discussing the effect of context on internationalization of firms, the family business literature has only recently begun to acknowledge contextual characteristics as important factors shaping family firm behavior (i.e. Carney, Duran, Van Essen, and Shapiro, 2017). The first essay, a literature review, adds to this conversation by unpacking how internationalization decisions in developing country family firms are affected by a number of resources, industry and institutional characteristics. This systematic review of family firm internationalization uses the strategy tripod perspective to understand characteristics that might have either a negative or a positive valence with respect to internationalization decisions. The second essay, a quantitative study, focuses on the effect of the participation of new generations in the family firms’ top management on internationalization. Results reveal different combinations of socioemotional wealth prioritization and influence over decision making that result in increased internationalization efforts. Finally, the third essay is a qualitative study that focuses on an understudied topic in the family business domain: women. Specifically, this essay studies the succession process of women into to family firm’s top management. Using a institutional logics perspective this study shows different mechanisms that helped women manage the barriers created by predominant logics, in their pathway to succession

Clab torino: A transdisciplinary environment to provide a challenge-based teaching model

Promoting an open dialogue, a constant interdisciplinary collaboration with companies, between universities, about partnership or open innovation perspective, today is a challenge that still faces some resistance. Learning to deal with complexity, with the coexistence of different points of view, in collaboration to combined and re-combined know-how in ever new, original and challenging formulations, brings with its specific needs. In this sense, design takes on a fundamental role to create projects with a view to sustainable innovation, projects that are increasingly responsive to contemporary complexity. So, how does design education need to change? How do working designers and design researchers can update their skills to meet the challenges of the present and future? This contribution, through the experimentation of the Contamination Lab Torino, investigates a new design-driven educational model intended as an extremely dynamic process from the creation of a multidisciplinary team to the transition from a product design logic to a Product Service System one, as the most effective way to face the issue of the system management, as a way to guarantee the appropriate flexibility to the contemporary needs of our society

Elements of Strategic Management and Innovation: An Empirical Investigation of the Elements Linking Strategy-Making to Those Elements Needed to Stimulate Innovation Within Scottish Firms

This investigation has three purposes which are described in the following: The first was to explore the concept of strategy-making as a major discipline within the field of strategic management. The enquiry describes how the analytical concepts, models and techniques of strategy-making were developed and assesses whether or not the essential elements of this discipline can be used to stimulate innovation