The economies (and diseconomies) of distributed technologies

Kybernetes ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 767-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Barile ◽  
Cristina Simone ◽  
Mario Calabrese
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Loss Of Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Perspective ◽  
Consistent Model ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
The One ◽  
And Diffusion ◽  
Distributed Technologies

Purpose This paper aims to focus on distributed technologies with the aim of highlighting their economic-organizational dimensions. In particular, the contribution first presents a deeper understanding of the nature and the dynamics of the economies and diseconomies that arise from the adoption and diffusion of distributed technologies. Second, it aims to shed light on the increasing tension between the hierarchy-based model of production and peer-to-peer (p2p) production, which involves the pervasive diffusion of distributed technologies. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an economic-organizational perspective, which is deeply rooted in the related extant literature, an analytically consistent model is developed to simultaneously take into account the following variables: adoption density independent variable) and economies of knowledge integration and organizational diseconomies (the costs of a loss of control and the costs of organizational decoupling and recoupling) as dependent variables. Findings Distributed technologies allow access to a large quantity and a wide variety of cognitive slacks that have not been possible until now. In doing so, they are leading the transition towards p2p. This is an emerging production paradigm that is characterized – with respect to mass production – by a shift in the relative importance of cognitive slack in comparison with tangible slack. Nevertheless, the unrestrainable diffusion of distributed technologies is not neutral for organizations. On the one hand, these technologies allow for the integration of economies of knowledge, and on the other hand, they involve organizational diseconomies that should not be ignored by managers and researchers. Originality/value This paper fills a gap in the literature by developing a consistent analytical framework that simultaneously takes into account the economies of knowledge integration and potential organizational diseconomies (the costs of coordination and the loss of control) that arise from the adoption and diffusion of distributed technologies.

The rise of P2P ecosystem: a service logics amplifier for value co-creation

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 863-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Simone ◽  
Antonio La Sala ◽  
Marta Maria Montella
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Peer Production ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Net Benefit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Extant Literature ◽  
Organizational Perspective ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
Distributed Technologies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine peer production (P2P) conceived as an ecosystem for value co-creation. First, this paper provides information on the specific P2P method for value co-creation, which is based on distributed technologies, cognitive slack and search for quality, to provide outputs that are open to continuous improvement. Second, aiming to fill the extant literature gap, this paper discusses the efficient dimension of P2P, providing a framework for the net benefit analysis of the economies and diseconomies that affect the value co-creation processes. Design/methodology/approach The paper identifies three main literature clusters that are focused on P2P, namely, economical, sociological and organizational clusters, and integrates them with the economics of organizational perspective to elicit information on the efficient dimension of P2P. This efficient dimension is expressed by a net benefit analysis of the economies and diseconomies that affect the P2P value co-creation processes. Findings The P2P ecosystem is characterized by the intensive interaction among cognitive slack and distributed technologies. This complex interaction presents interesting implications in terms of efficiency that, until now, have not been analyzed in the literature. Aiming to fill the extant literature gap, this paper provides a consistent analytical framework that simultaneously takes into account the economies of knowledge integration and potential diseconomies, that is, the costs of coordination and loss of control that arise from the adoption and diffusion of distributed technologies. Originality/value This paper provides an original explanation of P2P as an emergent ecosystem that serves as a service logics amplifier of value co-creation. In this regard, analysis of the key features of P2P not only sheds new light on P2P, but also allows for the reflection on the ecosystem’s framework, which promotes a virtuous interaction between the conceptual speculation and understanding of reality. Moreover, the proposed framework for the net benefit analysis of the P2P value co-creation model draws the attention of managers and decision makers as they consider the following issue: value co-creation jointly considers not only its benefits, but also its associated costs.

Insights into the adoption of social media mashups

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wu He ◽  
Shenghua Zha
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Environments ◽  
Organizational Perspective ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
And Diffusion

Purpose – The existing mashup literature paid little attention to the actual adoption and diffusion of mashups in an organizational context. As more and more organizations are engaged in mashup initiatives, more research efforts focussing on the mashup use and adoption issues from the organizational perspective are needed to ensure that organizations can receive the maximum benefits from their mashup initiatives. Two studies are conducted to increase the understanding of the use and adoption issues with social media mashups. The paper aims at discussing these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The paper first used a text mining approach to analyze relevant posts on blogs and messages in a major online mashup forum in order to understand the current status of social media mashup as well as representative themes and issues with social media mashups in general. Subsequently, the paper reviewed a number of social media mashup sites created by higher education institutions (HEIs) in the USA. Findings – The paper identified some representative themes and issues with social media mashups in general. The paper also identified the approaches that were used to design the interface of social media mashup sites by HEIs. Based on the two studies, this paper provides recommendations and insights to guide social media mashup development and adoption in an organizational context. Originality value – This is the first article to discuss the use and adoption of social media mashups in organizational environments. This paper can be used as a starting point to motivate other researchers to further explore the diffusion of social media mashups in different industries. This paper also helps organizations improve their social media mashup initiatives.

Biotechnology education and societal demands: challenges faced by biotechnology and human resources development

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Pandu Ranga Narasimharao
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Moral Problems ◽  
Educational Guidance ◽  
The One

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the social responsibility of universities and other higher education institutes in meeting the challenges faced by biotechnology and human resource development.Design/methodology/approachThe challenges faced by biotechnology are discussed under three broad heads – exponential growth in biotechnology knowledge, commercialization and industrialization of the biotechnologies, and knowledge integration by various stakeholders of biotechnology.FindingsThe emergence of the knowledge society warrants that universities ensure that overall work of the academy is more relevant to the nation's most pressing civic, social, economic and moral problems and that there is an urgent need to have a fresh look at the approaches followed in biotechnology education and training, particularly with reference to developing countries. It is necessary to see how the different players (industries, university, society, government) concerned with biotechnology can act in unison and in a mutually beneficial way. An integrated approach to the field of biotechnology combining different subject areas is necessary and the courses and approach should reflect this.Originality/valueCareer counselors and those engaged in educational guidance are flooded with inquiries about biotechnology courses and their scope. It is observed, on the one hand, that the biotechnology field is starved of talent and, on the other hand, that there are several universities/colleges, particularly in developing countries, producing large numbers of unemployable graduates. Some serious thinking needs to be done urgently to overcome this problem.

scholarly journals Diffusion of Personalized E-Government Services among Dutch Municipalities

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent M.F Homburg ◽  
Andres Dijkshoorn
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Policy Innovation ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Political Responsibility ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Electronic Service ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
The One ◽  
And Diffusion

This article describes the trend of personalization in electronic service delivery, with a special focus on municipal electronic service delivery in the Netherlands. Personalization of electronic services refers to the one-to-one citizen orientation using authentication, profiling and customization techniques. The percentage of Dutch municipalities offering services through personalized electronic counters has increased from 14% (2006) to 28% (2009). Using binary logistic regression analyses of 2008 survey data, it is concluded that personalization is positively associated with size of municipalities but not with e-government and policy innovation statements, nor with explicit political responsibility with respect to e-government development. Based on these findings, alternative explanations for the adoption and diffusion of personalized e-government services are suggested.

From low tech to modern industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Tian He ◽  
Hao Hu ◽  
Yi Tao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Guangdong Province ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
System Innovation ◽  
Modern Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evolution Path ◽  
The World ◽  
Modern Industry

Purpose – The aim of this paper was to attempt to investigate the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry in Guangdong Province of China by applying a perspective of sectoral system of innovation (SSI). TCM industry in China has experienced an evolution path from low-tech to modern industry. Design/methodology/approach – An analytical framework of sectoral system innovation for explaining the change in TCM industry in Guangdong Province has been conducted. Findings – It shows that during the successful transformation of the TCM industry in Guangdong from low-tech to modern sector, national and provincial institution are acting as main drivers. Knowledge integration is the decision factor of modernization and innovation strategy as an actor that makes the transformation adjust and operate efficiently. Other actors, such as demand and external networks interplay together and led to a gradual organizational, structural and institutional change and modernization of TCM industry. Originality/value – SSI analyses of TCM in China have never been conducted before, this paper also contributes to enrich the experience of low-tech industry transformation and provide references to other low-tech industries around the world.

scholarly journals Consumers in local food markets: from adoption to market co-creation?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Bentsen ◽  
Per Egil Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Food Markets ◽  
Consumer Adoption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Research ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
New Phenomena ◽  
And Diffusion

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the consumer adoption literature on local food. This study discusses the applicability of traditional models of adoption and diffusion to understand new phenomena such as the development of local food networks.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of the literature on the adoption and diffusion of local food systems was conducted.FindingsA total of three main challenges within the literature on the adoption and diffusion of local food are identified: the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes local food, divergent market assumptions and divergent consumer assumptions. In addition, this study points to the need for new perspectives on consumer adoption and diffusion of local food practices.Originality/valueThis paper provides an overview of current local food research streams and contributes to the literature on consumer adoption and diffusion of local food consumption.

A reality‐based guide to KMS diffusion

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Xu ◽  
Mohammed Quaddus
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
End User ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Practices ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
The Cost ◽  
User Focus ◽  
And Diffusion ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeTo summarise the findings from research in adopting and diffusing knowledge management systems.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is a summary of the study findings and a discussion of these.FindingsThe findings explain the adoption and diffusion of a KMS in an organization. These include: perceived usefulness has a positive relationship with an organization embarking on a KMS; people's decision to accept and use a KMS is directly determined by perceived user‐friendliness and perceived voluntariness; and the KMS diffusion process takes place in six stages.Research limitations/implicationsThis study tested the entire research model. In the future, parts of the model could be extracted and investigated in detail.Practical implicationsThe results have significant implications for managerial practices, including the need for a KMS; the cost of a KMS; significant factors of KMS adoption and diffusion; end‐user focus and involving people in the KMS; and organizational adjustment to embrace the KMS.Originality/valueThe study develops and tests a comprehensive model of KMS adoption and diffusion.

scholarly journals Social contagion and the institutionalisation of GRI-based sustainability reporting practices

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameeta Jain ◽  
Muhammad Azizul Islam ◽  
Monica Keneley ◽  
Monika Kansal
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Social Contagion ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
Financial Services Sector ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
And Diffusion

Purpose This study aims to investigate the adoption and diffusion of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)-based sustainability reporting practices within the global financial services sector. Design/methodology/approach The approach draws on the sociological construct of social contagion theory (SCT) to explain the drivers of diffusion of GRI-based sustainability reporting. Based on a longitudinal study of GRI adoption over a period from 2000 to 2016, thematic content analysis of sustainability reports and media articles was used to refine information gathered that related to nature and spread of GRI-based sustainability practices within the global financial services sector. Findings This study finds that the early adopters of GRI-based sustainability reporting and the accompanying media attention influenced the institutional diffusion of GRI-based reporting in the financial services sector. This growth was isomorphic as companies copied best practice models to reduce uncertainty and maintain legitimacy. Originality/value This paper focuses on the institutional diffusion of sustainability reporting practices within the global financial sector. It explores the notion of social contagion as an institutional dynamic to understand the drivers for the adoption and diffusion of GRI-based sustainability reporting across national borders. In doing so, the study contributes to the accounting literature on diffusion of innovations in reporting practice, but also, more generally, to the field of diffusion of new ideas in organisations using the unique approach of SCT.

Bringing terroir back to the roots? A methodological proposal for studying local food products

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (12) ◽  
pp. 3089-3101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile Garçon
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Early Beginning ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
The One ◽  
Fruitful Research ◽  
Constructivist Approaches

Purpose In line with various scientific papers warning against an inconsistent use of this adjective for food qualification, the purpose of this paper is to point out the sweeping assertion that “local” equates to “ecological”. Design/methodology/approach Looking beyond the measurement of carbon emissions to assess impacts on the environment, this paper addresses ecological issues in terms of interactions with the environment. To this end, it enhances an under-the-skin approach that goes through “local” fruit and vegetables to look into seed management and plant breeding practices. Findings This method, tested with 2 vegetative species – apple and potato – on 12 case studies in Europe, allows to build a typology that discriminates between: producing food without reproducing plants, grafting trees and storing tubers for maintaining landraces, and sowing seeds to restart the breeding process from the early beginning, trying in this way to enhance the capacity of plants to better fit with their environment. The typology matches a gradient that describes various degrees of intensity of environment–society relationships, from disconnection to adaptation – conceived on the one hand as already stabilized and on the other hand as still evolving. Research limitations/implications This analytical framework sheds light on contradictions that many local food networks have to face while yearning for a recognition by a geographical indication. Originality/value The paper argues that vegetal material might be a fruitful research object for tracking the controversies that unfold along the construction of local food products. It discusses social constructivist approaches of terroir while advocating for a materialist approach.

Innovation adoption and diffusion in business-to-business marketing

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannu Sakari Makkonen ◽  
Wesley J. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Innovation Adoption ◽  
System Level ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
And Diffusion

Purpose – The current knowledge concerning how organizations adopt innovations is considerably less than the sum of its parts. The aim of this paper is to review the innovation adoption and diffusion approach and connect it with the main related theoretical fields within business-to-business marketing. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a conceptual discussion, the aim being to develop an integrative conceptual framework. Findings – The adoption and diffusion approach gives little indication of the effects on adoption of the established relationships and the wider relational setting comprising the direct and indirect influences between the network actors. It is rather the innovation and the related communication that are in focus. As a result, the innovation and its adoption and diffusion are considered unique phenomena, the actors are assigned the static roles of opinion leaders and change agents, social system can be defined, and there is no competition. The current theoretical approaches within the business-to-business marketing could provide support in building a more realistic view of adoption and diffusion in industrial context. Originality/value – The contribution of the proposed conceptual model lies in its capacity to take into account organizational behavior in the form of individual-level actions that underpin the adoption process and relate this intra-firm behavior to its wider network context, thereby facilitating the production of a system-level account and a holistic understanding of the phenomenon of adoption.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document