Innovation users’ view to implementing digital innovations in industrial operations

: Martinsuo M, Ikävalko H

Publisher: European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management, EIASM

: 2023

: Proceedings of the 30th Innovation and Product Development Management Conference 2023

: Innovation and Product Development Management Conference

: https://researchportal.tuni.fi/en/publications/62dede3f-b540-4028-be87-499aec391e70

The implementation of digital innovations in industrial operations requires new capabilities from firms and their partners. Previous research has concentrated on firm and network-level investigations, whereas less attention has been directed at users adopting the innovation and using it at work. This study investigates the user-related enablers (and disablers) of implementing digital innovations in industrial operations, specifically in terms of behavior and competence-based agency of innovation users. The two-case study covers experiences of implementing a digital innovation in manufacturing and maintenance operations. The cases reveal four archetypal agency categories, bounded, knowledgeable, situated, and transformative agency, depending on whether users{\textquoteright} competences and behaviors restricted or amplified their agency. Innovation users are characterized as active agents that proactively influence the development pace and trajectory of the digital innovation. Distributed multi-actor agency in implementing the innovation calls for continued management, to make use of the positive outcomes of innovation users{\textquoteright} agency.