Exploring Social Aspects Influence on Change in Network Relationships: A Case Study of Digital Innovation

Digital innovation processes are becoming more and more networked, and actors are growing dependent on each other’s competences, resources and knowledge. In networks developing digital innovation actors need to identify, mobilize, and integrate diverse and heterogeneous knowledge resources to be able to innovate successfully. Social aspects are important where heterogeneous actors connect, negotiate, and adjust to each other’s perspectives. The aim of this paper is to explain how social aspects such as trust, commitment and power, influence changes in relationships in digital innovation networks. A case study approach was selected to study events involving multiple actors in an innovation and development project aimed at introducing technology that aids elderly, home care personnel and next of kin by improving the management of home care visits. Based on the authors’ findings they present a model for how social aspects influence changes in relationships and conclude by making six propositions.