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INNOVATION IN VIRTUAL WORLDS:Social Structure and Diffusion
Niamh O Riordan
Frédéric Adam
Philip O’Reilly
Business Information Systems
University College Cork
Ireland
Full paper available at: http://www.ecis2009.it/papers/ecis2009-0408.pdf
Agenda
• Virtual Worlds
• Innovation– A Knowledge Creation Lens– A Social Network Perspective
• Research Objective and Questions
• Conceptual Framework
• Investigating the Framework
Virtual Worlds• Important histories v. new departures • Limited research on • Defining virtual worlds:
– Virtual worlds ~ Virtual environments ~ Virtual reality– Virtual worlds are not games– Virtual worlds are not channels for communication– A new definition
• Virtual worlds are shared, interactive, immersive environments where people can collaborate, communicate, innovation, and trade
Innovation
• An idea, practice, object or material artifact that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption– Creative– Economically valuable
• Shortcomings of the literature– Lack of integration– Spark of genius ???– Co-evolution of innovations
A Knowledge Creation Lens A Social Network Perspective
Process Variance
Individual e.g. Creativity
Group e.g. Brain Storming
Organization
Knowledge Creation
Source: Nonaka, Toyama, and Byosiere in Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge (2001)
Research Objective & QuestionsRO To Investigate Knowledge Creation in Virtual Worlds
• RQ1 How does knowledge creation take place in virtual worlds?
• RQ2 How do virtual worlds impact knowledge creation in them?
• RQ3 How do virtual worlds impact social network topographies?
• RQ4 How do virtual worlds social networks* impact knowledge creation in them?
* The topographical and compositional features of
Conceptual Framework
Propositions• RQ2
– P(1) Virtual worlds positively influence socialization – P(2) Virtual worlds positively influence externalization– P(3) Virtual worlds positively influence combination – P(4) Virtual worlds positively influence internalization
• RQ3– P(5) Virtual worlds positively impact social capital – P(6) Virtual worlds positively impact knowledge resources
• RQ4– P(7) Social network constructs positively influence socialization– P(8) Social network constructs positively influence internalization– P(9) Social network constructs positively influence combination – P(10) Social network constructs positively influence externalization
Investigating the Framework
• Three Stage Approach1. Archival Analysis
2. Case Study
3. Survey
