Adoption of management innovations: motivation, timing and extent of implementation

Abstract

Purpose The first purpose of this study is to further empirically test the validity of Kennedy and Fiss’ (2009) framework about the connections between adoption motivation and timing as well as between adoption motivation and the extent of practice implementation when adopting a management innovation. In addition, the study also aims at developing the framework by extending its set of motivations by adding forced selection. The second purpose of this study is to test whether the framework is sensitive to the characteristics of the innovations. Methodology The study uses a qualitative research method based on semi-­‐structured interviews at companies certified with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Their answers have been categorized and given relative performance values to gain comparability and build a foundation for analysis of the empirical findings and the theoretical framework. Theoretical framework The theoretical framework is based on previous research in the field of management innovations and its decision-­‐making, adoption motivations, timing and implementation. Empirical foundation The empirical material of this study is the results from conducted interviews. Conclusions This study shows the complexity of categorizing adoption motivations and the importance of considering forced selection as a possible adoption motivation. The results of this study support that motivational logics of efficiency and legitimacy complement rather than conflict with each other. We also show how gains-­‐related adoption motivations often are associated with extensive practice implementation but that loss-­‐related motivations not necessarily are associated with a low extent of practice implementation. We also show how the characteristics of innovations can be of great significance when studying the adoption process.