Institute's Blog

Research Results and Whitepapers The following reports are the results of investigations funded by the IIIP. The full reports are available below. The IIIP Innovation Confidence Index — 2007 Report January 2008 Authors: Dr. Jonathan Levie; Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde Summary — This document reports the first results of an international index of Innovation Confidence developed for and funded by the Institute for Innovation & Information Productivity (IIIP) by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde in association with the Global Entrepreneurship Research Association. The report displays results from a survey of almost 25,000 individuals in 12 nations, presents the IIIP Innovation Confidence Index, identifies some predictors of Innovation Confidence, and suggests options for further research on Innovation Confidence. These initial results raise interesting questions for governments and for innovative companies in nations with low innovation confidence, particularly those nations with reputations for innovation. Are most of their people as sceptical of, or at best indifferent to, new products and new technology as this study suggests? Further in-depth research, perhaps at a focus group level with consumers, might provide some answers. Whitepaper: Making Virtual Distance Work in the Digital Age December 2007 Authors: Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski, CEO, Virtual Distance International; and Dr. Richard R. Reilly, Professor, Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of Technology Abstract — By itself, proper software selection cannot resolve the issues created by Virtual Distance. But by understanding the dynamics of Virtual Distance teams, organizations can select the right software to provide highly effective critical support and mitigate the inherent risks. Whitepaper: The Virtual Workforce: A Shifting Paradigm December 2007 Authors: Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski, CEO, Virtual Distance International; and Dr. Richard R. Reilly, Professor, Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of Technology Abstract — Dynamics that do not exist in face-to-face interactions—including distance, different cultures, a wide range of time zones, and communications barriers—mean virtual teams face unique challenges. But there are steps you can take to enhance trust and foster leadership, effective collaboration, and innovation in virtual workgroups. Disruptive Communication and Attentive Productivity March 2007 Lead Investigator: Westwell, Martin; Deputy Director, Institute for the Future of the Mind Abstract — Two well established tests of cognition were used to determine the impact of interruption and disruption caused by communication through voice, SMS text messaging and instant messaging upon attention and the ability to complete cognitively demanding tasks by 18-21 and 35-39 year old men and women. With the Map Search, no significant effect of interruption was seen including when co-related with age, sex, mode of interruption and interruption order (i.e. whether the participant was interrupted on the first search or the second). With the Symbol Digits Modalities test, a more demanding cognitive test, a significant effect of interruption was observed when the order of interruption and age were considered. The results from this pilot experiment suggest that in cognitively demanding situations, the advantage that 18-21 year olds enjoy over 35-39 year olds is reduced by an interruption caused by electronic communication technology. No significant diminution of function was observed for the older age group when interrupted. Information Technology, Productivity and Innovation — Literature Review Paper March 2007 Authors: Brynjolfsson, Erik; and Saunders, Adam "In this survey, we review the literature concerning information technology (IT), productivity and innovation. We examine recent trends in the literature, with an emphasis on literature in the past decade. We look at both official measures of the value and productivity of technology, and suggest some broader alternatives for measuring the value of technology on the economy, especially including intangible assets. We also examine the intersection of technology and innovation, and include a discussion of the incentives for innovation for information goods. We conclude with some recommendations for new ways to measure technological impacts and opportunities for future research."