Net up your innovation value

Abstract

Value from ICT Innovation may come from the building of social capital through relational coordination. Hence, for innovation-based companies, combining social capital and economic capital value through the creation and maintenance of business relationships and networking to obtain value plays a central role for their growth and survival. In this paper we design and evaluate a so-called “network nexus” prototype as an ICT value assessment tool for facilitators of innovation-oriented networks. To determine whether a business network is structured for providing value to its members, the facilitator scores the network based on a survey. The scoring of the nexus gives an indication of what to improve to increase value. Evaluation of the nexus resulted in the identification of six types of networks each with their own potential for value. We conclude that design challenges for ICT assessment tools of business network groups can be overcome but needs to be rooted in their context.