| Peer-Reviewed

Applying the Early Adopters Model to Organizations Undergoing Technological Innovation Process

Received: 24 October 2019     Accepted: 19 November 2019     Published: 2 December 2019
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

This article examines the relevance of the Early Adapter to the process of technological innovation assimilation in a contemporary organization environment._In the 21st century, an organization that wishes to survive in face of the flood of changes in customer requirements, technological innovation, and changing environment must assimilate technological innovation as an ongoing routine by way of carrying out an intensive process of digital transformation. Studies have shown that the digital transformation process affects the employees. It may require additional work effort as well as re-learning, and even change in status. Consequently, resistance may rise. This might affect the success and the effectiveness of the digital transformation in the organization. Therefore, it requires the support of management and the cooperation of the employees, while planning a realistic, concise, and coordinated timetable for the process. The Diffusion of Innovations model (DOI) argues that workers with a positive propensity to technology are more likely to become the early adopters of the digital transformation. According to the Complex Adaptive Systems model (CAS) in organizations, employees who act as fractals (namely, work in a functional autonomy) are prone to encourage technological innovation and utilize resources effectively and share knowledge and solutions tailored to customer needs. _This study examined the relationship between workers function as fractals in an organization with CAS characteristics, and the following traits: development of positive attitudes towards technology, ready to use, and involvement in the assimilation process. According to the DOI model, these are the characteristics of early adopters. Such employees are the most significant contributors to the effectiveness of digital transformation. An empirical study was conducted among 270 subjects who worked in four different organizations in different capacities. The results of the study show that there is a significant relationship between working as an early adopter and working as a fractal in a CAS organization. It also shows that the dimensions “ready to use” and “employee involvement in the process” were the most significant, and exhibited strong and meaningful relationship. The conclusions of the study indicate that the transformation of the organization into CAS, as well as the development of workers as fractals, will encourage the employees to become early adaptors, hence contribute to an efficient and effective process of digital transformation, and to effectively handling disruptive innovation.

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13
Page(s) 158-165
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Knowledge Workers, Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), Early Adopters. CAS Organization, Disruptive Innovation, Digital Transformation, Change Assimilation

References
[1] Anderson, C and Ellerby, W. (2018). Digital Maturity Model Achieving digital maturity to drive growth. Deloitte.
[2] Anjariny, A. H. (2016). Assessing Organizations Readiness toward Business Intelligence Systems: A Proposed Hypothesized Model. International Journal of Information Technology Convergence and Services (IJITCS) Vol. 6. Retrieved from: http://aircconline.com/ijitcs/V6N1/6116ijitcs02.pdf.
[3] Beesen, J. Ford, J and Meurer, J. (2011). The Private and Social costs of Patent Trolls. Boston University. 11-45.
[4] Bennet, A. and Bennet, D. (2002). Characterizing the Next Generation Knowledge Organization. Knowledge and Innovation: Journal Of The Kmci. Retrieved from: https://www.kmci.org/media/bennetcharacterizingki11.pdf.
[5] Bennett, R. and Gabriel, H. (1999). "Organizational factors and knowledge management within large marketing departments: an empirical study", Journal of Knowledge Management, Vol. 3 Issue: 3, pp. 212-225.
[6] Chen, D. (2010), Schooling as a Knowledge System: Lessons from Cramim Experimental School. Mind, Brain and Education. 4:1. Pp: 8-19.
[7] Christensen, C. M, Bartman, T., and Van bever, D. (2016), "The Hard Truth about Business Model Innovation". MIT Sloan Management Review.
[8] Dan, V., Osterheider, A., & Raupp, J. (2018). The Diffusion of Innovations in Agricultural Circles: An Explorative Study on Alternative Antimicrobial Agents. Science Communication, 41 (1), 3–37. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547018819159.
[9] DeMattia, A. McKnight, J. Gahm, J and Keane, M. (2018). Research Proves IT Transformation’s Persistent Link to Agility, Innovation, and Business Value. Dell EMC and Intel and is distributed under license from ESG. Retrieved from: https://www.dellemc.com/en-us/it-transformation/index.htm#cobrand=intel&overlay=/collateral/analyst-reports/esg-it-transformation-report-agility-innovation-business.pdf.
[10] Hasgal, A and Ahituv, N. (2017). “The Development of Knowledge Workers in an Organization characterized as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS)”, 14th International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management & Organisational Learning”, Hong Kong.
[11] Hasgall, E. A. (2015), From assimilation to acclimatization of social digital Technology in organizations. International Journal of Computer Systems (IJCS). Vol 2 Issue 10. Retrieved from: http://www.ijcsonline.com/IJCS/IJCS_2015_0210001.pdf.
[12] Holland, J. H. (2006), "Studying complex adaptive systems", Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 1-8.
[13] Hartono, H and Basuki, Yt. (2015) The impact of knowledge management and Knowledge entrepreneur on innovation and firm performance. People innovation Excellence: Retrieved from: http://sbm.binus.ac.id/2015/10/21/the-impact-of-knowledge-management-and-knowledgeentrepreneur-on-innovation-and-firm-performance/.
[14] Jackson, Mo. (2008). Social and economic networks. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
[15] Oreg, S. (2003), "Resistance to change: Developing an individual difference measure", Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol. 88 No. 4, pp. 680-693.
[16] Potter, K and McGittigan, G. (2013) IT Metrics: A Critical Evaluation of Decentralized IT Spending and Digital Enterprise Readiness. Gartner, Inc.
[17] Rogers, Everett. M. (1962). Diffusion of Innovations. New York: The Free Press of Glencoe. P. 13. 5.
[18] Rogers, E. M., Medina, U. E., Rivera, M. A. and Wiley, C. J. (2005). Complex Adaptive Systems and the Diffusion of Innovations. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal, Vol. 10 (3), 29.
[19] Robertson T. S. (1967). The Process of Innovation and the Diffusion of Innovation Journal of Marketing, Vol. 31. pp. 14-19.
[20] Schwab, K. (2017). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. New York: Crown Publishing Group.
[21] Moghavvemi, S. Salleh, N. A. M. and Standing, C. (2016). "Entrepreneurs adoption of information system innovation: The impact of individual perception and exogenous factors on entrepreneur's behavior", Internet Research, Vol. 26 (5), pp. 1181-1208.
[22] Shirer, M and Eileen, S. (2017). IDC Forecasts Worldwide Spending on Digital Transformation Technologies to Reach $1.3 Trillion in 2018. IDC Retrieved from: https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS43381817.
[23] Shoham, S., & Hasgall, A. (2005). Knowledge workers as fractals in a complex adaptive organization. Knowledge and Process Management, 12 (3), 225–236.
[24] Singhal A. and Svenkerud, P. J. (2019). Flipping the Diffusion of Innovations Paradigm: Embracing the Positive Deviance Approach to Social Change. Asia Pacific Media Educator. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1326365X19857010.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Niv Ahituv, Alon Hasgall. (2019). Applying the Early Adopters Model to Organizations Undergoing Technological Innovation Process. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 8(6), 158-165. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Niv Ahituv; Alon Hasgall. Applying the Early Adopters Model to Organizations Undergoing Technological Innovation Process. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2019, 8(6), 158-165. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Niv Ahituv, Alon Hasgall. Applying the Early Adopters Model to Organizations Undergoing Technological Innovation Process. Psychol Behav Sci. 2019;8(6):158-165. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13,
      author = {Niv Ahituv and Alon Hasgall},
      title = {Applying the Early Adopters Model to Organizations Undergoing Technological Innovation Process},
      journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
      volume = {8},
      number = {6},
      pages = {158-165},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20190806.13},
      abstract = {This article examines the relevance of the Early Adapter to the process of technological innovation assimilation in a contemporary organization environment._In the 21st century, an organization that wishes to survive in face of the flood of changes in customer requirements, technological innovation, and changing environment must assimilate technological innovation as an ongoing routine by way of carrying out an intensive process of digital transformation. Studies have shown that the digital transformation process affects the employees. It may require additional work effort as well as re-learning, and even change in status. Consequently, resistance may rise. This might affect the success and the effectiveness of the digital transformation in the organization. Therefore, it requires the support of management and the cooperation of the employees, while planning a realistic, concise, and coordinated timetable for the process. The Diffusion of Innovations model (DOI) argues that workers with a positive propensity to technology are more likely to become the early adopters of the digital transformation. According to the Complex Adaptive Systems model (CAS) in organizations, employees who act as fractals (namely, work in a functional autonomy) are prone to encourage technological innovation and utilize resources effectively and share knowledge and solutions tailored to customer needs. _This study examined the relationship between workers function as fractals in an organization with CAS characteristics, and the following traits: development of positive attitudes towards technology, ready to use, and involvement in the assimilation process. According to the DOI model, these are the characteristics of early adopters. Such employees are the most significant contributors to the effectiveness of digital transformation. An empirical study was conducted among 270 subjects who worked in four different organizations in different capacities. The results of the study show that there is a significant relationship between working as an early adopter and working as a fractal in a CAS organization. It also shows that the dimensions “ready to use” and “employee involvement in the process” were the most significant, and exhibited strong and meaningful relationship. The conclusions of the study indicate that the transformation of the organization into CAS, as well as the development of workers as fractals, will encourage the employees to become early adaptors, hence contribute to an efficient and effective process of digital transformation, and to effectively handling disruptive innovation.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Applying the Early Adopters Model to Organizations Undergoing Technological Innovation Process
    AU  - Niv Ahituv
    AU  - Alon Hasgall
    Y1  - 2019/12/02
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13
    T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
    SP  - 158
    EP  - 165
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7845
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20190806.13
    AB  - This article examines the relevance of the Early Adapter to the process of technological innovation assimilation in a contemporary organization environment._In the 21st century, an organization that wishes to survive in face of the flood of changes in customer requirements, technological innovation, and changing environment must assimilate technological innovation as an ongoing routine by way of carrying out an intensive process of digital transformation. Studies have shown that the digital transformation process affects the employees. It may require additional work effort as well as re-learning, and even change in status. Consequently, resistance may rise. This might affect the success and the effectiveness of the digital transformation in the organization. Therefore, it requires the support of management and the cooperation of the employees, while planning a realistic, concise, and coordinated timetable for the process. The Diffusion of Innovations model (DOI) argues that workers with a positive propensity to technology are more likely to become the early adopters of the digital transformation. According to the Complex Adaptive Systems model (CAS) in organizations, employees who act as fractals (namely, work in a functional autonomy) are prone to encourage technological innovation and utilize resources effectively and share knowledge and solutions tailored to customer needs. _This study examined the relationship between workers function as fractals in an organization with CAS characteristics, and the following traits: development of positive attitudes towards technology, ready to use, and involvement in the assimilation process. According to the DOI model, these are the characteristics of early adopters. Such employees are the most significant contributors to the effectiveness of digital transformation. An empirical study was conducted among 270 subjects who worked in four different organizations in different capacities. The results of the study show that there is a significant relationship between working as an early adopter and working as a fractal in a CAS organization. It also shows that the dimensions “ready to use” and “employee involvement in the process” were the most significant, and exhibited strong and meaningful relationship. The conclusions of the study indicate that the transformation of the organization into CAS, as well as the development of workers as fractals, will encourage the employees to become early adaptors, hence contribute to an efficient and effective process of digital transformation, and to effectively handling disruptive innovation.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Business Administration Faculty, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • Learning Technology Faculty, The Technology Institute, Holon, Israel

  • Sections