Internal and External Collaborative Technology Adoption: A Focus on a European and an Emerging Countries’ Gaps Based on the Adaptive Structuration Theory

Abstract

Abstract. This research highlights the differences of the adoption of collaborative tools between one European and one emerging country in Asia. Based on the Adaptive Structuration Theory and the Technology Spirit concept, it uses a three dimensional model focused on both internal and external collaboration. 18 tools were surveyed in a sample of 75 managers of large companies with more than 1000 employees. The results show a wider external collaboration in the emerging country, particularly in the dimensions of actor's satisfaction and flexible frontier. Internal collaboration is more developed in both countries, but mainly in the dimension of value creation. The paper illustrates and adapts the theory in a high tech web 2.0 environment. Managerial implications are suggested in collaboration practices and measurements.