Article: Heteromorphism: beaconing IT innovations under institutional pressure towards unique capabilities Journal: International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management (IJIEM) 2018 Vol.9 No.1 pp.1 - 18 Abstract: RFID innovations are often pursued due to institutional pressures. Consequently, many organisations end up with disappointing results. However, there are exceptions where organisations gain competitive advantages with RFID over time. We use two rather competing theories to explain the exceptional cases. Institutional theory discusses that organisations often imitate RFID pioneers due to an institutional pressure, which can lead to organisations turning homogeneous and causes disappointing results. Whereas, resource-based view explains that organisations can gain significant benefits by developing unique capabilities and become heterogeneous instead. We posit that organisations do not necessarily need to strike a balance between institutional and resource-based determinants, as suggested in the literature. The IT innovation process can be rather sequential, as can be observed with RFID innovations. An in-depth case study is leveraged to describe the process of turning an IT innovation under institutional pressure into unique capabilities. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Heteromorphism: beaconing IT innovations under institutional pressure towards unique capabilities

Authors: Jerrel Leung; Waiman Cheung; Sung-Chi Chu

Addresses: Department of Decisions Sciences and Managerial Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 12 Chak Cheuk Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong ' Department of Decisions Sciences and Managerial Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 12 Chak Cheuk Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong ' Department of Decisions Sciences and Managerial Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 12 Chak Cheuk Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

Abstract: RFID innovations are often pursued due to institutional pressures. Consequently, many organisations end up with disappointing results. However, there are exceptions where organisations gain competitive advantages with RFID over time. We use two rather competing theories to explain the exceptional cases. Institutional theory discusses that organisations often imitate RFID pioneers due to an institutional pressure, which can lead to organisations turning homogeneous and causes disappointing results. Whereas, resource-based view explains that organisations can gain significant benefits by developing unique capabilities and become heterogeneous instead. We posit that organisations do not necessarily need to strike a balance between institutional and resource-based determinants, as suggested in the literature. The IT innovation process can be rather sequential, as can be observed with RFID innovations. An in-depth case study is leveraged to describe the process of turning an IT innovation under institutional pressure into unique capabilities.

Keywords: IT innovation; institutional theory; resource-based view; mindfulness; RFID.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEM.2018.098886

International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management, 2018 Vol.9 No.1, pp.1 - 18

Received: 15 May 2018
Accepted: 15 May 2018
Published online: 09 Apr 2019 *

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Title: Heteromorphism: beaconing IT innovations under institutional pressure towards unique capabilities

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