Information Technology Adoption in Multidisciplinary and Multiorganizational Environments

Information Technology Adoption in Multidisciplinary and Multiorganizational Environments

NRDM Workshop - Data Governance

Gabriel AsatoGeological and Mining Survey of ArgentinaCommision for the Management and Application of GeoInformationMember of Open Geospatial Consortium Speaker BureauMember of NRDM Advisor Board

Introduction

The Beginning of a Good Idea

I have a good idea!!

The developed product will be really nice!!!

I think the product/app/system will help the development of my organization

Gabriel Asato -NRDM 2013

But what use to be happen...

New ideas or advanced technologies are not easily accepted by people either organizations.

Why?

Real life tell us:

● The process of technology adoption is not an easy process despite of the promising future.


The Millon Dolar Question

We have technology, know-how and we know the benefits of the development of this new kind of technology

But..

How we can develop an integrated and operational product/app/system?

Why the organization/people is not accepting my new idea?

What this Presentation Will Explain?

Some issues about new technology adoption process

(by my experiences and conclusions developing Geoinformation Systems for National Organizations in

Argentina)


A Short Story About a GeoIT Scientist and His Developments

Geologist 1990Remote Sensing Specialist 1992

(RS and GIS for Mining Exploration)GIS Developer 1993

(Development of Geological Digital Map)….


How the National Digital Map Project was Made

● Business Model● Development of Standards and

Methodologies● Information Architecture● Applications● Test Application/Demo● Product


Big Problem: Technology Acceptance and Adoption

● The infrastructure aim of the Geological Digital Map was to create a corporate system that will support production and information requirements of the organization.

● But the concept of corporate system was never understood (accepted) despite of the proven benefits of the Digital Geological Map Production System.


Unsuccess-Consequences

● The System is not well integrated with the organization work flow

● The System and their products cannot be replicated by others (then enhanced)

● There are no other developments created based on the previous experience.

● People didn’t learn something new● New errors == old errors (re-invention of the

wheel)


Solutions?

● Training?

● Marketing?

● Proof of concepts?

● Operative pilots?


Success?

In consequence I was:Accepted by the international GIT

communityRecognized by argentinean

universities and organizations as a main GIS trainer

But...

The main aim was not reached

The organization still not have a corporative system

Lessons Learnt

Good Systems Designs Will not Guarantee Project Success

It was learnt that human factor is important in the process of technology adoption and acceptance.

The Technological Project must be accepted by people!!!!


My Personal History 2Coordinating Multidisciplinary

and Multiorganizational ProjectsLessons Learnt

Coordinating Groups

CGI-IUGS (Interoperability for Geosciences)

RedOT (Inf. Sys. Group for Land Management)

Argentina Data Providers for Natural Hazards and Risk Management (Interoperability Group)

GT.SIG (GeoInformation for eGov)Gabriel Asato -NRDM 2013

Issues About Group and Technology Acceptance Management

● Business Model● Organizations and Know-How Management● System/Applications Development Stages in a

Organization● Professional Impedance Mismatch● Working Group Coordination● Dynamics of a Working Group● Technology Acceptance Model● Organization/Head Support (top-bottom model)● External and Potential Partners


Business Model

● About the business objectives of your organization● About the information constraints ● Quality criteria (data, products,etc)● Available Infrastructure

○ Physical○ Human resources○ Know how

● Relationships, expected benefits, etc.

The definition of business model is essential to define the context, objectives and constraints of our information

system


North

Business Model is the North for Information Projects in your Organization!!!


Contextual Analysis:Organization Tradition and Working Style.

Integration of New Developments

New developments must be linked to existing practices and rules. It is well known that starting a project from zero forgetting previous experiences will have a lot of difficulties to be integrated to the daily operations in the organization.

Staff know the why of the ways and methodologies. Any improvement or reform should be formulated on previous structures.

Development Stages

● Laboratory● Unit● Departament● Organization● Public

Increase cost developmentDecrease user interface complexity


Human Factor

The most complex variable

The Multidisciplinary Working Group

Professional Impedance Mismatch○ Different Practices○ Different Cultures○ Different Technical Language

People need to know how to speak each other!!A meeting and working methodology is needed


Working with Partners

● People hate feel ignorant● People join to a new project by personal interests (they

need to understand that participation will gave any kind of profit)

● People need to be part of the project (appropriation).● Appropriation promote group creativity● Project leader will probably knows the how-to’s but

sometimes is much better look ignorant.(one eye man in the kingdom of blind people is a mad!!!)


Working Group Partners● Innovators● Early Adopters● Majority● Neg. Opposition

○ Lagard○ Old-King○ Neo-Luddite


Head SupportTop-Bottom Model

Successful adoption is highly dependent on the degree, stability and wisdom of the administrative sponsorship.

There are no successful adoption without CEO's compromises


Technology Acceptance Model

TAMUsefulEasy to use


Working With External Partners

● Stakeholders

● Society/Public


Final Remarks

● It is well known that new and complex technologies adoption process use to be a difficult process

● It demand important investments in research and development and sometimes the product (result) will be not accepted by users despite the promise of potential benefits


Final Remarks

Technology adoption by an organization consists on studying the processes and objectives of the organization, and is part of a long negotiation with members of staff and users in order to create an operational and useful product/application/system


Adoption means: Change Management

Muito Obrigado!!!Muchas Gracias!!!

Thank You Very Much!!!