L07 A: Henfridsson, O., & Bygstad B. (2013) The Generative Mechanisms of Digital Infrastructure Evolution Flashcards
Generative mechanisms that serve as causal powers in digital infrastructure evolution:
- innovation
- adoption
- scaling
Explain the innovation mechanism
self-reinforcing process by which new products and services are created as infrastructure malleability spawns recombination of resources driven by business and technology developers.
Digital infrastructure –> technical malleability –> recombination –> new services –> (loop)
Explain the adoption mechanism:
self-reinforcing process by which more users adopt the infrastructure as more resources are invested increase the usefulness of the infrastructure driven by users.
Digital infrastructure –> more services offered –> more users adopt –> more resources invested (loop)
Explain the scaling mechanism:
self-reinforcing process by which an infrastructure expands its reach as it attracts new partners by offering incentives for collaboration.
Digital infrastructure –> partners attracted –> partner solutions added –> reach expanded (loop)
Digital infrastructure
the collection of technological and human components, networks, systems, and processes that contribute to the functioning of an information system.
What is the conclusion regarding Adoption Scaling (AS)?
AS configuration involves lower stakes than AIS because interplay between adoption and scaling mechanisms is relatively straightforward and allows for wider choice of management interventions.
Managers should have confidence in traditional project management techniques, and observe that both loosely coupled and tightly coupled architectures may be effective.
What is the conclusion regarding Adoption Innovation Scaling?
AIS configuration describes the causal path of really ambitious undertakings, where interaction between the three mechanisms is crucial and innovation mechanisms should be targeted as the drives.
