Abstract:
It is argued that a substantial gulf exists between the investment made in
technology and the ability of organisations to realise significant improvements
in business performance.
In the fields of Innovation and Technology Transfer there have been
developments in the application of more process focused and human elements as
a way of addressing the deficiencies of the previous generation of linear and
more structured research.
In this thesis the conceptual models from such research have been adapted and
modified in order to apply it to the specific problem of the adoption and
assimilation of information technology (IT). The conceptual models are
operationalised through a set of research activities which include investigation
into the congruence between technology deliverers and recipients, the
technocratic nature of the IT professional role (as determined by employers), the
values and perceptions of IT managers, the preoccupation of the IT research and
practitioner literature, and the values and perceptions of IT users, as 'service'
clients.
The substantive conclusions are that the nature of the role of IT professionals is
dominated by relatively project orientated and technology orientated
characteristics. This, in part, inhibits the ability of organisations to develop
strategy and for organisations to consider the service function of IT. This is
displayed in the form of an interactive, conceptual model. The thesis also
demonstrates the extent to which the distinction between the adoption of an IT
technological opportunity, by an organisation, can be usefully distinguished
from the problems of assimilating that opportunity into the daily routine of the
organisation and therefore for business advantage.
