Disruptive information system innovation: the case of internet computing

Information Systems Journal - Tập 13 Số 4 - Trang 301-330 - 2003
Kalle Lyytinen1, Gregory M. Rose2
1Department of Information Systems, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA, email: [email protected]
2Department of Accounting, Management Information Systems and Business Law, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA, email: [email protected]

Tóm tắt

Abstract. Information system (IS) innovation can be defined as a novel organizational application of digital computer and information communication technologies (ICT). This paper discusses how modalities of applying ICT technologies in their form and scope exhibit radical breaks, which are introduced herein as ‘disruptive IS innovations’. This notion of disruptive IS innovation is developed by drawing upon and extending Swanson's (1994) theory of IS innovation as well as the concept of radical innovation. Disruptive innovations strongly influence the future trajectory of the adoption and use of ICT in organizational contexts and make the trajectory deviate from its expected course. In doing so, these disruptive innovations distinctly define what an IS is and how it is deployed in order to address current and future organizational and managerial prerogatives. Such changes are triggered breakthroughs in the capability of ICT that lead to the revision and expansion of associated cognitive models (frames) of computing. Disruptive IS innovations are those that lead to changes in the application of ICT that are both pervasive and radical. The pervasive nature implies that innovative activity spans all innovation subsets of the quad‐core model of IS innovation introduced herein. Innovation types include: IS use and development processes; application architecture and capability; and base technologies. Radical in nature, disruptive is innovations depart in significant ways from existing alternatives and lead to deviation from expected use and diffusion trajectory. This paper demonstrates the importance of a concept of disruptive IS innovation by investigating how changes triggered by internet computing (Lyytinen et al., 1998) meet the conditions of a disruptive IS innovation defined herein. The analysis also affirms both the pervasive and radical nature of internet computing and explains how internet computing has fundamentally transformed the application portfolio, development practices and IS services over time. The analysis demonstrates that, with the concept of disruptive IS innovation, we can fruitfully analyse ‘long’ waves of ICT evolution – an issue that has largely been overlooked in the IS community. On a theoretical plane, the paper advocates the view that we need to look beyond linear, unidirectional, and atomistic concepts of the diffusion of IS innovations where innovative activity takes places in a linear fashion by oscillating between small technological innovations and small organizational innovations. In contrast, IS innovation can exhibit fundamental discontinuity; we need to theoretically grasp such disruptive moments. The recent influx of innovation, spurred by internet‐based technology, offers one such moment.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Alter S., 2001, Does the trend toward e‐business call for changes in the fundamental concepts of information systems? – A debate, Communications of the AIS, 5

Amor D., 2000, The E‐Business (R)evolution.

Axelrod R., 2000, Harnessing Complexity: Organizational Implications of a Scientific Frontier.

10.1145/278476.278498

Bansler J., 2000, Corporate intranet implementation: managing emergent technologies and organizational practices, Journal of AIS, 1

Baskerville R., 2001, How internet software companies negotiate quality, IEEE Software, 51

10.1016/0164-1212(89)90018-6

Berners‐Lee T., 1999, Weaving the Web – the Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of World Wide Web by its Inventor.

Bijker W., 1987, The Social Construction of Technological Systems, 159

Braa K., 2000, Planet Internet, 13

Carstensen P.&Vogelsang L.(2001)Design of Web based information systems

new challenges for system development.Proceedings of the 9th ECIS Bled Slovenia 27‐29 June 2001 pp.536-547.

Christensen C., 1992, Exploring the limits of the technology S‐curve. Part I: component technologies, Production and Operation Management, 1, 4

Christensen C., 1992, Exploring the limits of the technology S‐curve. Part II: architectural technologies, Production and Operation Management, 1, 4.

10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199603)17:3<197::AID-SMJ804>3.0.CO;2-U

10.1016/0959-8022(94)90005-1

10.2307/255754

10.1016/0048-7333(82)90016-6

10.1287/isre.4.2.166

Fichman R.(1992)Information technology diffusion: a review of empirical research. In:Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Information Systems DeGross J. Becker J.&Elam J.(eds) pp.195–206. 13–16 December Dallas TX.

Foster R., 1986, Innovation, the Attacker's Advantage.

Friedman A., 1989, Computer System Development: History, Organization and Implementation

Galliers R.D., 1987, Towards Strategic Information Systems, 8

Glass R.L., 2001, Is there new meaning to testing and quality assurance, Software Practitioner, 11, 1

10.1287/isre.8.3.273

10.1287/isre.1.1.23

Hage J., 1980, Theories of Organizations.

Henderson R., 1990, Administrative Science Quarterly, 9

Hughes T., 1983, Networks of Power, 10.56021/9780801828737

Hughes T., 1987, The Social Construction of Technological Systems, 51

10.1016/0268-4012(86)90001-0

10.1145/278476.278490

Keen P., 2000, The eProcess Edge: Creating Customer Value and Business Wealth in the Internet Era.

10.1145/358189.358074

Kuhn T., 1970, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.

Kwon T.H., 1987, Critical Issues in Information Systems Research, 227

10.1287/isre.3.4.334

10.1145/28865.28867

Lyytinen K., 1991, Penetration of information technology in organizations; a comparative study using stage models and transaction costs, Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, 3, 31

Lyytinen K.&Damsgaard J.(2001)What's Wrong with the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The Case of a Complex and Networked Technology IFIP 8.6. Conference Proceedings Banff 8‐10.4.2001 Canada.

10.1046/j.1365-2575.1998.00037.x

10.1287/isre.13.4.377.75

10.1287/isre.11.4.327.11873

10.1145/260750.260759

10.1046/j.1365-2575.2000.00079.x

10.1145/362280.362284

Nolan R.L., 1979, Managing the crisis in data processing, Harvard Business Review, 115

Norris G., 2000, E‐Business and ERP: Transforming the Enterprise

10.1145/217278.217284

Rogers E.M., 1995, Diffusion of Innovations

Sauer C., 1999, Rethinking Management Information Systems, 279, 10.1093/oso/9780198775331.003.0015

10.1287/mnsc.40.9.1069

Tapscott D., 2000, Digital Capital: Harnessing the Power of Business Webs

10.1016/0048-7333(86)90027-2

10.1145/253671.253700

Tuomi I., 2002, Theory of Innovation: Change and Meaning in the Age of Internet

Turban E., 2000, Electronic Commerce: a Managerial Perspective.

10.1145/278476.278499

Utterback J., 1996, Mastering the Dynamics of Innovation

Zaltman G., 1977, Innovations and Organizations

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Information Systems Journal

Tập 13 Số 4

301-330

Thông tin tác giả