Assignment Two

Short Paper Assignment: Due September 23, 2004 12:40PM.

How do users shape the innovation process?

Choose an invention that you know well, and analyze the role of users in the innovation process of your case study by using the concepts in the readings and lectures on "the diffusion of innovation"and the "social construction of technology."

• Choose a technological artifact that is familiar to you for your analysis (like TiVo, or cellphones, or one of the topics from the class list); the course is going to take up the issue of innovation in information very soon, and that will be our next paper topic.
• This is not a research paper, but an exercise in applying the two models of innovation. You do not need to do extensive research on your chosen innovation. We recommend that you pick an innovation you already know about (from first-hand experience if possible).
• Paper length: No more than 4 pages (format as if your readers had old eyes: double-spaced, 12 point font, standard margins) not counting endnotes and appendices.
• Write this paper in "memo style:"
  • Write a brief executive summary or abstract with the utmost clarity and economy of expression, stating the answer that you want the reader to take away rather than a long wandering introduction that massages the topic;
  • Use tight organization following the order presented in the executive summary. Relate your case study to the two models of innovation with clear and concise points (as if you thought your readers were easily bored). Use endnotes or appendices for details or supporting evidence.
  • The conclusion should present your evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the two models of innovation as they apply to your case study.
• Individual paper writing only, and be sure you conform to University regulations on plagiarism by citing the source of everything you quote or otherwise depend upon. If you want feedback, submit a draft Executive Summary to Peter for critique. Vivien Petras is available for consultation on writing.

Here are some of our suggestions about how you should write the paper:

1. Executive Summary. The executive summary should present your conclusions and major arguments (not present an outline of the paper). In Silicon Valley I've never had anyone read past the first page of anything I've written (or past the third Powerpoint slide), so it is valuable to learn how to write a perfectly concise argument in your executive summary assuming that may be the only thing your supervisor will read.

2. Organize. In the paper itself you can go into details about the evidence and complexities, but if people read the body of the paper they'll skip around, looking for details about the parts of the argument that interest them. So you need to be well organized.

3. The Case Study. The purpose of this paper is for you to apply and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the two models of innovation that we've looked at -- diffusion of innovation and SCOT.

(a) Make sure that you review the subtle parts of the two arguments and footnote any attributions to them; we will not be impressed by generalizations, we're looking for mastery of the details of these two models, and the ability to apply them to a case.

(b) The case study can be an illustration of your points rather than an in-depth well-researched investigation. Use something familiar if possible, and do some research on it, but we're mainly interested in your evaluation of the models of innovation.

(c) Your own point of view is very welcome, but make sure it is supported by clear, concise arguments.

4. Conclusion. The conclusion can go in several directions. You might make a clear statement of the strengths and weaknesses of the two models, and state your own preferences and ideas about how to analyze innovation -- or bring in other theorists that you've read. Or, your own working theories about how to analyze technical innovation are very welcome -- we like to see your own ideas in action, but in dialogue with the course readings and lectures, not in place of them.

Four pages is a short space to accomplish these goals, but the purpose of this assignment is to help you develop very efficient and clear styles of writing arguments.