Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
introduCtion
that starts at adoption and extends to use. Since
knowledge will not necessarily circulate freely
firm-wide just because accurate IT to support
such circulation is available (Brown & Duguid,
2000), actual CTs' utilization may be a critical
phase. In an attempt to address this issue, this
research examines the effect of CTs on innova-
tion not only directly, the simple presence of CTs,
but also based on actual CTs' use. In this regard,
this study will explore the direct relationship
between CTs' adoption and innovation, as well
as the indirect relationship from CTs' adoption,
through CTs' use, to innovation.
The article consists of six sections and is
structured as follows. The next section offers a
classification of CTs and a framework differen-
tiating three CTs' uses. In the third section, the
theoretical model is proposed and hypotheses are
stated. Following that, the methodology used for
sample selection and data collection is discussed.
Then, data analysis and results are examined. Fi-
nally, the article ends with a discussion of research
findings and concluding remarks.
Emerging powerful Information Technologies
(ITs), such as the Intranet, allow people to col-
laborate and share their complementary knowl-
edge (Bhatt, Gupta, & Kitchens, 2005). These
technologies are responsible for e-collaboration,
which can be defined as the collaboration among
individuals engaged in a common task using
electronic technologies (Dasgupta, Granger,
& McGarry, 2002). As an intranet evolves, it
increases in sophistication and complexity and
can be used for advanced applications such as
collaborative design, concurrent engineering, and
workflow support (Duane & Finnegan, 2003).
Thus, intranets are diverse and can integrate dif-
ferent collaborative technologies (CTs).
CTs can be oriented to different, but compat-
ible, uses. These are related to the offering of
information online, communications and infor-
mation exchange, and the automation of internal
business processes. Hamel (2002) emphasizes the
role of IT as an enabler of product and process
innovation. Innovation process requires the sup-
port of CTs since they help in the efficient storage
and retrieval of codified knowledge (Adamides &
Karacapilidis, 2006), get different people together
to innovate (Bafoutsou & Mentzas, 2002), enable
the formation of virtual teams to execute the
innovation process (Adamides & Karacapilidis,
2006; Kessler, 2003), and create an organizational
climate favourable to product innovation. Thus,
e-collaboration is expected to have a positive
impact on firm innovation. The reverse direction
of causality could exist as well, that is, causality
may flow also from innovation to CTs' adoption.
However, this article focuses on analyzing the
impact of CTs on innovation.
Computer systems cannot improve organiza-
tional performance if they are not used (Davis,
Bagozzi, & Warshaw, 1989). Recently, Devaraj and
Kohli (2003) showed that actual use may be an
important link to IT value. Thus, we need to view
CTs' impact on innovation as a multistage process
literAture revieW
Collaborative technologies
CTs are applications where ITs are used to help
people coordinate their work with others by shar-
ing information or knowledge (Doll & Deng,
2001). They are critical in KM programs (Alavi
& Leidner, 2001; Marwick, 2001; Skyrme, 1998).
Different technologies are used in e-collaborations
(Dasgupta et al., 2002). A review of the literature
reveals several CTs' classifications. DeSanctis and
Gallupe (1987) discuss a taxonomy based on group
size (smaller, larger) and task type (planning, cre-
ativity, intellective, preference, cognitive, conflict,
mixed motive). According to Pinsonneault and
Kraemer (1990), there are two categories of group
support systems: group decision support systems
and group communication support systems. Ellis,
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