1. Managing Network Technologies Ole Hanseth, IFI, UiO SUMIT Trondheim, 4th Sept. 2002

2. Important concepts Network Network Installed base Installed base Bootstrapping Bootstrapping Lock-in Lock-in Gateway Gateway

3. The challenges The challenges Network technologies: Telemedicine, EDI, EPR,.. Network technologies: Telemedicine, EDI, EPR,.. Open and generic technologies, use not pre-defined Open and generic technologies, use not pre-defined Discretionary, not mandated use (’from users to customers’) Discretionary, not mandated use (’from users to customers’) Necessity of learning-based development Necessity of learning-based development and most importantly... and most importantly...

4. Networks and network technologies Economy of networks: Increasingly attractive with size, self- reinforcing mechanism. Increasingly attractive with size, self- reinforcing mechanism. Dilemmas: Dilemmas: –Doesn’t take off: No value for few users – everybody waits for the others. –If it does: Lock-in.

5. ’Multidimensional’ critical mass Diversity of users (motivation, knowledge, style, …) Diversity of users (motivation, knowledge, style, …) Heterogeneity of use areas and of technologies. Heterogeneity of use areas and of technologies. Granovetter’s pedestrians: distribution of individual preferences. Granovetter’s pedestrians: distribution of individual preferences. Networks of networks Networks of networks

6. ’Bootstrapping’ Enclocypedia: ’She bootstrapped herself to the top’ – to manage on one’s own Enclocypedia: ’She bootstrapped herself to the top’ – to manage on one’s own Lifting yourselves by your hair Lifting yourselves by your hair Booting a computer Booting a computer Implementing a programming language Implementing a programming language Language learning Language learning Making a tool/network by means of the tool/network Making a tool/network by means of the tool/network ”Deliver a better today, rather than promise a better tomorrow”. ”Deliver a better today, rather than promise a better tomorrow”.

7. Bootstrapping Network Technologies Select motivated and knowledgeable users Select motivated and knowledgeable users Simple, non-critical, non-complicated use areas where no large organisational changes are required. Simple, non-critical, non-complicated use areas where no large organisational changes are required. Select simple, relatively cheap and well supported technical solutions. Select simple, relatively cheap and well supported technical solutions. Users first, then functionality/technology Users first, then functionality/technology

8. Lock-in and gateways Large networks are never made from scratch – extending and improving the installed base Large networks are never made from scratch – extending and improving the installed base Backward compatibility Backward compatibility EPR: institutionalised (standardized network) of practices EPR: institutionalised (standardized network) of practices Fit/support existing practices (otherwise no bootstrapping) Fit/support existing practices (otherwise no bootstrapping) Makes a larger network – harder to change Makes a larger network – harder to change Gateways between old and new networks: connected and different Gateways between old and new networks: connected and different