Facilitating Organizational Adoption of Sensor-Based Systems: Espoused Beliefs, Shared Assumptions and Perceived Values

Abstract

The advent of sensor-based systems with their ability to collect, transmit and process context-aware data creates new opportunities for service delivery. We know from earlier research that there may be barriers to the adoption of new information technology (IT) within an organization. Sensor-based systems, with unprecedented potential for monitoring of products, people and processes are an interesting mix of potential and risk. Through the lens of organizational culture theory, we examine the question: Given the ambiguity and complexity of sensor-based systems, how does organizational culture influence perceptions of system value and purpose, and which factors determine the susceptibility of adoption among individual workers and teams? Our results suggest that the adoption of sensor-based systems is facilitated by 1) a basic comprehension of the system, its functionality, purpose and limitations; 2) a shared view of stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities, and 3) a pronounced and tangible vision for value creation.