It. is well known that t.he introduction of a new technology in one organization not always produces the intended benefits (Levine, 1994). In many cases, either the receivers do not reach the intended level of use or simply the technology is rejected because it does not match with the expectations (true or false) and the accepted psychological effort to use it. The case of formal methods is a paradigmatic example of continual failures. The published cases with problems or failures only constitute the visible part of a large iceberg of adoption cases. It. is difficult to get companies to openly express the problems they had; however, from the experience of the author, failure cases are very common and they include any type of company. Many reasons to explain the failures (and in some cases the successes) could be postulated; however, the experiences are not structured enough and it is difficult to extract from them useful guidelines for avoiding future problems. Generally speaking, there is a trend to find the root of the problems in the technol ogy itself and in its adequacy with the preexistent technological context. Technocratic technology transfer models describe the problems in terms of these aspects. Although it is true that those factors limit the probability of success, there is another source of explanations linked to the individuals and working teams and how they perceive the technology.

The diffusion, transfer and implementation of information and software technology is discussed in this volume. Contributions have been sourced from academia, government and industry specialists to afford a representation from as many perspectives as possible on research and practice. The publication is divided into 7 parts, each of the first 6 sections representing a major area of concern in current technology transfer of information. The last chapter includes the summary reports of working sessions referred to in previous sections.

This volume contains the edited proceedings of the Working Conference on the Transfer and Diffusion of IT for Organizational Resilience, sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 8.6 (Transfer and Diffusion of Information Technology), and held in Galway, Ireland in June of 2006. The material contained in this book represents current thinking on the topic of resilience by academics and leading practitioners.

IT Innovation for Adaptability and Competitiveness addresses the topic of IT innovations that can further an organization's ability to adapt and be competitive. Thus we address the problem at an earlier starting point, that is, the emergence of something innovative in an organization, applied to that organization, and its process of being diffused and accepted internally. Topics covered in the book include: -The role of IT in organizational innovation, -Innovating systems development & process, -Assessing innovation drivers, -Innovation adoption, -New environments, new innovation practices. This volume contains the edited proceedings of the Seventh Working Conference on IT Innovation for Adaptability and Competitiveness, which was sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 8.6 and held at Intel Corporation, Leixlip, Ireland in May-June 2004.

Covers the important concepts, methodologies, technologies, applications, social issues, and emerging trends in this field. Provides researchers, managers, and other professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to properly understand the role of end-user computing in the modern organization.

Diffusing Software Product and Process Innovations addresses the problems and issues surrounding successful diffusion of innovations in software. Everett Rogers' classic text, Diffusion of Innovations, provides a valuable framework for evaluating and applying technology transfer methods. In today's new economy, the most important innovations may well be new software products and processes. Topics covered in this valuable new book include: Implementation and coordination issues; New interpretations of diffusion theory; Diffusion of software processes; Contextual factors; Communication of information; Experience reports. This volume contains the edited proceedings of the Fourth Working Conference on Diffusing Software Product and Process Innovations, which was sponsored by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 8.6, and held in Banff, Canada in April 2001. It reflects the latest experiences of practitioners and theories of academics in this fast-changing field.

International Federation for Information Processing The IFIP series publishes state-of-the-art results in the sciences and technologies of information and communication. The scope of the series includes: foundations of computer science; software theory and practice; education; computer applications in technology; communication systems; systems modeling and optimization; information systems; computers and society; computer systems technology; security and protection in information processing systems; artificial intelligence; and human-computer interaction. Proceedings and post-proceedings of referred international conferences in computer science and interdisciplinary fields are featured. These results often precede journal publication and represent the most current research. The principal aim of the IFIP series is to encourage education and the dissemination and exchange of information about all aspects of computing. For more information about the 300 other books in the IFIP series, please visit springeronline.com. For more information about IFIP, please visit www.ifip.or.at.

th The 11 Working Conference of IFIP WG 8.6, Open-IT Based Innovation: Moving Towards Cooperative IT Transfer and Knowledge Diffusion, organized in Madrid in October 22–24, 2008, follows the series started in Oslo in 1995 and continues in the footprints of the past year’s conference in Manchester. This year, although the Madrid Conference addresses the usual topics covered in previous WG8.6 conferences, the emphasis is on the issue of open innovation and its relationships with technology transfer and diffusion in the field of information technology. This issue is deeply modifying the way that knowledge is generated, shared, transferred, diffused, and used across the world as a side effect of globalization. It affects the organizational structure, partnerships, roles assumed by stakeholders, and technology transfer and diffusion models and instruments. Industry, academia, and governments are simultaneously concerned. Although the concept applies to all industrial sectors, IT companies were early innovators. The analysis of the contents of this book allows the identification of some trends in technology transfer and diffusion issues as a part of the innovation process. The same problem is addressed in very different ways and extrapolation is not straightforward. Even innovation terminology is not clearly shared by different subcultures in the field.

Knowledge and Technology Adoption, Diffusion, and Transfer: International Perspectives is filled with original scientific and quality research articles on management information systems, technology diffusion, and business systems application aspects of e-commerce, e-government, and mobile application. As a forum of multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary dialogue, it addresses research on all aspects of innovation diffusion in the field of business computing technologies and their past, present, and future use. This title serves as a vital source of information for researchers and practitioners alike.

World Bank Discussion Paper No. 281.This study examines the best practices of eight OECD countries--Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States--in designing national policies and programs to accelerate the effective use of information technology in support of industrial competitiveness. New technologies in computing, communications, and multimedia are changing the competitive advantage of industries, services, and entire economies. Enterprises must therefore increase their technological development and education through government assistance.The emerging experience is rich and diverse. The study draws on the tacit knowledge of the designers and implementors of national policies and programs to establish key rules-of-thumb for future programs. The authors outline broad directions for adapting these practices to the conditions of developing countries.