Sustainability of Technology-intensive Social Innovations: the Role of Absorptive Capacity and User-orientation.

Working paper

This paper explores the determinants of the sustainability of technology-intensive social innovation with special emphasis on absorptive capacity and complementary assets. A series of cases studies from India are examined. Findings from the paper show that absorptive capacity and complementary assets can be critical factors of success and sustainability for innovative ICT-enabled projects in developing countries. Evidence from rural e-services projects indicates that customer freedom of choice enables social innovation to meet the needs of the grassroots, and thereby, enhances the vitality and sustainability of the technologyintensive social innovations.

Authors: Fu, X; Polzin, C

• Publisher: SLPTMD (Department of International Development, University of Oxford)
• Series: Working Paper Series
• Publication date: 2008-01-01
• Language: English