Managing Network Managing Network TechnologiesTechnologies

Ole Hanseth, IFI, UiOOle Hanseth, IFI, UiO

SUMIT Trondheim, 4th Sept. 2002SUMIT Trondheim, 4th Sept. 2002

Important conceptsImportant concepts

• NetworkNetwork

• Installed baseInstalled base

• BootstrappingBootstrapping

• Lock-inLock-in

• GatewayGateway

The challengesThe challenges

• Network technologies: Telemedicine, Network technologies: Telemedicine, EDI, EPR, ..EDI, EPR, ..

• Open and generic technologies, use Open and generic technologies, use not pre-definednot pre-defined

• Discretionary, not mandated use Discretionary, not mandated use (’from users to customers’)(’from users to customers’)

• Necessity of learning-based Necessity of learning-based developmentdevelopment

• and most importantly ...and most importantly ...

Networks and network Networks and network technologiestechnologies

Economy of networks:Economy of networks:• Increasingly attractive with size, Increasingly attractive with size,

self-reinforcing mechanism.self-reinforcing mechanism.

• Dilemmas:Dilemmas:– Doesn’t take off: No value for few users Doesn’t take off: No value for few users

– everybody waits for the others.– everybody waits for the others.– If it does: Lock-in.If it does: Lock-in.

’’Multidimensional’ critical Multidimensional’ critical massmass

• Diversity of users (motivation, Diversity of users (motivation, knowledge, style, …)knowledge, style, …)

• Heterogeneity of use areas and of Heterogeneity of use areas and of technologies.technologies.

• Granovetter’s pedestrians: Granovetter’s pedestrians: distribution of individual preferences.distribution of individual preferences.

• Networks of networksNetworks of networks

’’Bootstrapping’ Bootstrapping’

• Enclocypedia: ’She bootstrapped herself to Enclocypedia: ’She bootstrapped herself to the top’ – to manage on one’s ownthe top’ – to manage on one’s own

• Lifting yourselves by your hairLifting yourselves by your hair• Booting a computerBooting a computer• Implementing a programming languageImplementing a programming language• Language learningLanguage learning• Making a tool/network by means of the Making a tool/network by means of the

tool/networktool/network• ””Deliver a better today, rather than promise Deliver a better today, rather than promise

a better tomorrow”. a better tomorrow”.

Bootstrapping Network Bootstrapping Network TechnologiesTechnologies

• Select motivated and knowledgeable Select motivated and knowledgeable usersusers

• Simple, non-critical, non-complicated use Simple, non-critical, non-complicated use areas where no large organisational areas where no large organisational changes are required.changes are required.

• Select simple, relatively cheap and well Select simple, relatively cheap and well supported technical solutions.supported technical solutions.

• Users first, then functionality/technologyUsers first, then functionality/technology

Lock-in and gatewaysLock-in and gateways

• Large networks are never made from scratch Large networks are never made from scratch – extending and improving the installed base– extending and improving the installed base

• Backward compatibilityBackward compatibility• EPR: institutionalised (standardized network) EPR: institutionalised (standardized network)

of practicesof practices• Fit/support existing practices (otherwise no Fit/support existing practices (otherwise no

bootstrapping)bootstrapping)• Makes a larger network – harder to changeMakes a larger network – harder to change• Gateways between old and new networks: Gateways between old and new networks:

connected and different connected and different