University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 1954-2016 University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2015 Overcoming barriers when introducing perceived disruptive innovations into rigid efficient systems Andrew Martin Connery University of Wollongong, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. 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For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] OVERCOMING BARRIERS WHEN INTRODUCING PERCEIVED DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS INTO RIGID EFFICIENT SYSTEMS A Dissertation Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by Andrew Martin Connery MIS (Research) Sydney Business School FACULTY OF BUSINESS 2015 THESIS CERTIFICATION I, Andrew Martin Connery, declare that this thesis, submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy, in the Sydney Business School, Faculty of Business, University of Wollongong, is wholly my own work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. The document has not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institution. ………………………………………………. Andrew Martin Connery Date: 3 September 2015 ABSTRACT This thesis addresses the tensions within rigid efficient systems that support the routine processes of productive institutions and the perceived disruptive innovations required for the sustainable development of those institutions in changing dynamic complex environments. The researcher’s experience (Phase One) as outlined in Chapter Two has motivated reflective research (Phase Two) on introducing innovation into hierarchical institutions, including the role of rigid efficient systems, managing wicked-type problems, the appropriate handling of exceptions to general rules and how to improve didactic communication within silo-based legacy systems. Phase Two is presented as a single case dominated by the tensions between the researcher and the institution regarding the introduction of a perceived disruptive technology. The narrative-based ethnographic approach was supplemented with a Leximancer text analysis of the relevant documents which detected the diverse perceptions of various stakeholders and displayed the uncovered themes, and concepts, as maps. Cultural Historical Activity Theory has been utilised as a framework to interpret these maps and identify tensions and systemic contradictions and their possible roles in addressing difficulties faced by higher degree researchers investigating innovative activities in university settings. The research findings led to the development of a modified informer framework that will help to overcome many of the type of systemic communication problems uncovered. The researcher also undertook an online review of intellectual property policies and related commercialisation guidelines in universities throughout Australia and developed a number of strategies to help overcome identified barriers likely to discourage the participation on campus of internet start-ups, small businesses or private individuals (with early-stage inventions or intellectual property) wishing to undertake worthwhile research with overt commercial outcomes. KEYWORDS Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Rigid Efficient Systems Cynefin Category-Sensing Model Semantic Media Richness Disruptive Innovation Student Intellectual Property Informer Emancipation Framework Systemic Contradictions 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my special appreciation and thanks to my supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Helen Hasan, who has been a tremendous mentor for me. Especially, for encouraging my Phase Two research and allowing me to grow as a research scientist. Her advice on the choice of a new thesis topic and methodology was invaluable. I would like to acknowledge my colleague, Evan Morrison, for his assistance with the data collection for Phase One of my doctoral research and the development of an algorithm for my provisional patents. I also want to thank Evan on a personal level for helping to make my extended PhD studies such a worthwhile experience. Last but not least, I would like express appreciation to my wife, Margaret, who was always my support in the moments when the completion of my research was most uncertain. 4 GLOSSARY Activity: The main unit of analysis in Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Bell Curve: The distinctive graphical shape of the mathematical concept called normal distribution, sometimes referred to as Gaussian distribution Bureaucracy: The administrative system governing any large institution - also see Rigid Efficient Systems CMC: Acronym for computer mediated communication such as email Complexity: The phenomena which emerges when a number of objects interact Cultural-Historical Activity Theory: An object-oriented psychological theory which treats individuals as an outgrowth of social forces rather than as an autonomous being Cynefin: A framework developed to address the impact of complexity on decision making processes Dialectic: The process describing the development of scientific thought through argumentation Dichotomy: A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different Didactic Communication: Two-way communication between teacher and student to promote learning Disruptive Technology: A unique innovation that helps to create a new market and value network, and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network by displacing an earlier technology Disruptive Innovation: The term "disruptive technology" has been widely used as a synonym of "disruptive innovation", but the latter is now preferred because market disruption has been found to be a function usually not of technology itself but rather of its changing application Dogma: A philosophy or belief that is acknowledged as an absolute truth Dynamic Evolving System: A system continually evolving in a dynamically changing and complex environment. Emancipation: The process of securing equality Endogenous: To originate from within a system Epistemic: Related to the meaning of knowledge 5 Epistemology: Branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge Exogenous: Refers to an action or object coming from outside a system. Formalised decision making: The process of defining the research question, designing a tool, collecting the raw data and evaluating the results Gestalt: A school of thought that looks at the human mind and behaviour as wholes rather than attempting to break them up into smaller parts Hierarchical Institutions: Organisations whose members are arranged in order of rank, grade or class Hyperlink or back-link: Usually a link from a high ranking website pointing to another capable of improving the target website’s page rank – the fundamental basis for most SEO campaigns Indogenous: Originating or produced within a system Innovative: Something original and important in any field that breaks into a market Intellectual Property: Rights protecting the products of human intelligence and creativity, such as copyrights, patents, trademarks etc JD-R model: HR framework designed to evaluate on-the-job effectiveness in terms of demands and resources Localised Search: Web-based search for local content utilising a standard browser Local Search Bias: Local search engine results overly influenced by page rank Methodology: Prescribed process to collect information and data for scientific evaluation MOOC: Massive Open Online Course – university-level education delivered over the internet Object-oriented: Process of planning a system of interacting objects for the purpose of solving a problem Ontology: The basic categories of being and their relationships with each other Page Rank: A value (0-10) assigned by Google to indicate web-page importance and an important predictor of prominence on Search Engine Results Page (SERP) 6 Rigid Efficient Systems (such as bureaucracies) are a way of organising work in which