Using Information Systems in Innovation Networks: Uncovering Network Resources

An article on the role of information systems (IS) in innovation networks of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has appeared in the August 2017 issue of the Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS).

In this paper, we argue that firms also have to develop particular networking capabilities (i.e., they have to understand who they are partnering with, what each partner can contribute, and how exactly each partner can cooperate with others across the network). The article is co-authored by Professor Lakshmi Goel from Univ. of North Florida, and Professor Iris Junglas from Florida State University and myself. It introduces a novel concept, IS-embedded network resources, which helps understanding how IS help SMEs reaching competitive advantages in innovation networks.

"IS are vital in developing unique constellations of resources (i.e., physical, human, and organizational resources) that we term IS-embedded network resources. These resources are manifested in the IS and are unique to the innovation network because they go beyond resources at the firm level. "

The work bases on research conducted in relation to the SmartNets European Commission co-funded community research project.