Background: The fashion retail industry has undergone a major transformation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of technical innovations. This transformation led to the emergence of digital fashion, a new concept integrating experimental technologies, including artificial intelligence, and augmented reality, which further has progressed towards the Metaverse. The Metaverse is a new consumption space without precedent changing how people communicate, create value, and generate economies. The emergence of the Metaverse is predicted to generate trillions of users in the upcoming ten years across user and enterprise use cases, altering the fashion retail industry. Research problem: Despite heavy investments in digital innovations in the retail fashion industry, the topic of innovation adoption remains understudied. As innovation is deemed one of the main drivers of business success, companies must know how to introduce them and understand the impacting factors of success. With Metaverse being the newest innovation that could alter the retail fashion industry, it requires more research and understanding of the impacting external factors that will influence its diffusion over time. Research purpose: The purpose of this study is to close the identified gap by identifying the external factors that influence the adoption and diffusion of Metaverse in the fashion industry. Further, it aims to generate a greater comprehension of the overall attitude toward this innovation.  Research question: What are the external factors and how do they influence the adoption and diffusion of Metaverse innovation in the fashion industry? Method: This is an exploratory qualitative study with an inductive approach. It follows the social constructionism epistemology and the relativistic ontology. Along with the grounded theory, the data is collected through interviews and from the social platform Reddit and analyzed through thematic analysis.  Conclusion: Our findings identify five external factors influencing the diffusion of Metaverse: Regulations, Technology, Digital skillset, Attitude, and Network effects. These factors interact with each other in the innovation process, and our conceptual framework offers a deeper understanding of its diffusion.

The purpose of this descriptive case study was to identify the strategies used by post-secondary military institutions to adopt, implement and train faculty for the use of new instructional technologies in the learning environment. Termed the Innovation Migration Process, it includes: 1) the adoption decision (selection of the innovation), 2) strategies for implementation and, 3) how faculty are trained on its use. The study was a two phased, explanatory, mixed-methods design beginning with a quantitative survey, followed by twelve qualitative interviews conducted at two exemplary institutions. The study identified two strategies are used to adopt new technology: 1) authoritative decisions from the "top-down" and 2) a bottom-up strategy where new technology is first used by innovators who work with a central organization to adopt the change. Five strategies were identified to implement the innovation: 1) centralized training; 2) leadership commitment; 3) tapping expertise; 4) well defined support for pedagogy and technical issues; and 5) a robust infrastructure. Four strategies were found for training faculty: 1) tapping expertise (indicating training and implementation are interwoven); 2) formal training; and 4) dedicated training time. The fourth strategy, incentives and rewards, was used successfully by one of the two exemplary institutions, but few of the other institutions offered either of these for training. Suggested guidelines for post-secondary, military institutions include: create a culture of innovativeness; demonstrated commitment by the leadership; follow Ely's Eight Conditions for Implementation; develop a centralized training organization; develop a robust technical support organization; invest in the infrastructure; seek out and support innovators; use a formal faculty development program. / Ph. D.

Les médias sociaux, tels que Facebook, Twitter et YouTube, seraient de plus en plus utilisés par la police afin de communiquer avec les citoyens, mais également afin de collecter des informations sur des suspects et afin de gérer des situations de crise (Altunbas, 2013; Denef, Bayerl et Kaptein, 2013; Frank, Cheng et Pun, 2011; IACP, 2013b). Par contre, ces observations s’appuient principalement sur des entrevues réalisées auprès des membres des organisations policières spécifiquement attitrés à l’utilisation des médias sociaux, tels que les enquêteurs affectés à la cybercriminalité. Ainsi, l’utilisation des médias sociaux par les autres membres demeure méconnue et il est impossible d’établir l’impact de cette technologie sur le « policing » dans son ensemble. L’objectif de la présente recherche est donc de décrire l’adoption des médias sociaux par les organisations policières du Québec en tenant compte de la diversité des acteurs et de leurs activités (Brodeur, 2010). Afin d’atteindre cet objectif, un questionnaire portant sur l’utilisation des médias sociaux en contexte de travail a été rempli par 177 membres des forces de l’ordre, soit 47 patrouilleurs, 42 enquêteurs, 67 analystes et 21 gestionnaires provenant de six organisations policières de la province du Québec. Les résultats révèlent que les médias sociaux deviennent un nouvel outil d’information pour la grande majorité d’entre eux, mais également un outil permettant à certains membres d’entrer en communication avec la population. Le niveau d’adoption des MS est moins important chez les patrouilleurs et superviseurs que chez les deux autres groupes. De plus, pour la majorité d'entre eux les médias sociaux représentent un outil parmi tant d'autres, alors que pour quelques membres ils deviennent leur outil principal de travail. Quant aux facteurs explicatifs, l’adoption des médias sociaux serait influencée par des facteurs organisationnels, mais également par la perception qu’ont les membres des médias sociaux. Alors que chez les groupes des enquêteurs et des analystes c’est principalement le fait d’occuper un poste de spécialiste qui détermine le niveau d’utilisation de l’outil, l’adoption chez les patrouilleurs dépend plutôt de la perception de la compatibilité de l’outil avec les activités de la police. / Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, are new technologies being used by police organizations to communicate with citizens, but also to collect information and to respond to emergencies (Altunbas, 2013; Denef, Bayerl & Kaptein, 2013; Frank, Cheng & Pun, 2011; IACP, 2013b). However, previous research focused mainly on describing the adoption of social media by the members of law enforcement agencies who are related with those tools, such as cybercriminal investigators. Thus, it failed to provide a description of how it is used by other members, and it is impossible to establish the impact of this technology on "policing" as a whole. The objective of this research is to describe the adoption of social media by Quebec police organizations. Our analysis is based on Brodeur’s (2010) framework of police multidimensionality, which sees the police as an assemblage of many components and groups of people engaged in different kinds of activities. To represent this multidimensionality, 177 members of different police organizations in the Province of Quebec were asked to answer an exhaustive questionnaire on different aspects of social media use. Respondents were involved in a wide range of policing activities such as patrol (n=47), investigation (n=42), criminal analysis (n=67) and management (n=21). Results reveal that social media is a new information tool for the great majority of them and also a tool that allows some members to communicate with the population. The level of adoption of social media is lower for patrollers and supervisors than for the other two groups. Moreover, for the majority of members social media is a tool among many others, while for some members it became their main tool of work. Finally, this adoption would be influenced by organizational choices, but also by how the members perceive social media. Among investigator and analyst groups, it is mainly the fact of occupying a specific function related with social media who determines the level of use of the tool, the adoption in the patrollers depends rather on the perception of the compatibility of the tool with the police activities.

Bakgrund: För att förbättra kommunikationen mellan aktörer i byggprojekt under produktionsskedet finns stor potential i att implementera nya information- och kommunikationsteknologier. I litteraturen förklaras implementeringar av dessa teknologier utifrån flera olika aspekter. En aspekt vars inverkan dock inte studerats i stor utsträckning är hur den tidpunkt som byggprojektet befinner sig i påverkar implementeringen, trots att tidsaspekten är en av projektet som organisationsforms viktigaste särdrag. Syfte: Studien syftar till att utforska förutsättningarna för implementering av informations- och kommunikationsteknologier i byggproduktion under olika faser av produktionsskedet. Metod: Studien utgår från teorier kring innovationsprocessen, implementering av innovation och teknologi tillsammans med teorier kring projektbaserat arbete och spårbundenhet i organisationer. Studien är genomförd som en fallstudie på byggbolaget Skanska där två byggprojekt undersöks i dess produktionsskede. Intervjuer genomfördes där faktorer bakom implementeringsprocessen av informations- och kommunikationsteknologier och förändringar av förutsättningar för denna process mellan två tidpunkter, produktionsstarten och mitt i produktionsskedet, kunde visas. Slutsatser: Studien visar att förutsättningarna för implementering av teknologier i byggproduktion förändras under produktionsskedet. Två huvudsakliga skillnader i förutsättningar identifierades, större tillgänglighet av tidsresurser och förekomst av aktiviteter som formar normen vid produktionsstarten jämfört med mitt i produktionsskedet. Studien visar även att dessa förutsättningar har en stor inverkan på implementeringen av teknologier vilket hindrar implementering av teknologier efter produktionsstarten. / Background: To improve communication between actors in construction projects during production phase there is great potential of new information and communication technologies. The literature explains the implementations of these technologies from several aspects. One aspect, which needs further research, is how the period which a construction project is in impacts the implementation, since the time aspect is one of the most important characteristics of a project. Purpose: This study aims to explore the prerequisites for implementing new information and communication technologies in production during different periods of the production phase of a construction project. Methodology: This study is based on theories on the innovation process, implementation process of innovation and technology together with theories on project management and path dependency in organizations. The study was conducted as a case study at the construction company Skanska, where two construction projects were investigated in their respective production phase. Interviews were conducted where factors behind the implementation process of information and communication technologies were shown. Changed prerequisites for this process between two of the project’s phases, the production start and the middle of production phase, were also revealed. Conclusions: This study shows that the prerequisites for implementing technologies in construction change during the construction phase. Two major differences were identified; greater availability of time resources and the presence of activities that form the norm, at the start of production compared to the middle of the production phase. This study also shows that these prerequisites have a major impact on the implementation of technologies, which result in difficulties in implementing the technologies after the start of the production.

Pesquisas sobre inovação e o mercado de baixa renda focam eminentemente no desenvolvimento de produtos e gestão de marketing, assumindo uma postura top-down, das empresas para os consumidores. Esta postura sugere textos prescritivos sobre gestão de empresas multinacionais, tanto em mercados desenvolvidos quanto em mercados emergentes. Do ponto de vista individual, tem se dada pouca atenção para compreender a adoção da inovação pelos consumidores de baixa renda. A presente tese busca investigar o conceito de inovação por esta perspectiva, assumindo uma postura bottom-up, focando principalmente nos consumidores. Desta forma, o objetivo da tese consiste em analisar os fatores que influenciam a adoção da inovação de produtos por consumidores de baixa renda. O recorte empírico da tese consiste no mercado de smartphones que é um produto com atributos inovadores e acessíveis aos consumidores de baixa renda. Os pressupostos teóricos que embasam a tese consistem nas restrições encontradas pelos consumidores do mercado da base da pirâmide, que englobam a baixa renda, falta de informação e conhecimento e falta de confiança. Essas restrições individuais causadas por problemas estruturais (transporte, educação, saúde, moradia, saneamento e etc.) afetam negativamente a adoção de inovação por consumidores. Essa relação sustenta o efeito principal do modelo da tese que consiste na hipótese 1. A literatura e conceitos utilizados para subsidiar a pesquisa foram Antecedentes do UTAUT 2, 4 As de Anderson e Billou, 12 Princípios de Prahalad, Inovação Disruptiva, Inovação Reversa e Inovação Inclusiva. A revisão destas teorias resultou em quatro conceitos que consideramos fatores influenciadores da adoção da inovação no mercado de baixa renda, que são as Características e Benefícios, Facilidade de Uso, Simplicidade e Preço Acessível dos produtos. Esses conceitos resultantes da revisão da literatura sustentaram as hipóteses 2, 3, 4 e 5 que analisam o efeito moderador dessas variáveis sobre a adoção da inovação. Para atingir cada um dos dois objetivos específicos da tese, dois estudos foram realizados. O estudo 1, fase exploratória, consistiu em seis grupos de foco realizados na Favela de Paraisópolis em São Paulo e uma pesquisa complementar com 11 entrevistas realizadas em regiões rurais do Sul da Índia. O estudo 1 objetivou identificar os fatores que influenciam a adoção da inovação por consumidores de baixa renda. O estudo 2, fase descritiva, consistiu em uma pesquisa de levantamento realizada em 3 regiões de baixa renda na cidade de São Paulo que objetivou analisar a relação direta entre as restrições dos consumidores de baixa renda e a adoção da inovação (H1) e o efeito moderador de Características e Benefícios (H2), Facilidade de Uso (H3), Simplicidade (H4) e Preço Acessível (H5) desta relação. O estudo 2 também contemplou uma pesquisa complementar de levantamento, realizada com consumidores de alta renda. Os principais resultados do estudo 1 (fase exploratória) revelam que as restrições de renda, informação, conhecimento e confiança afetam a taxa de adoção da inovação. Além disso, mais do que o aquisição e compra dos produtos, a adoção está diretamente relacionada ao uso dos smartphones. Por fim, identificamos que há uma sobreposição de agentes no mercado de smartphones que gera confusão para os consumidores. Diferentes empresas fabricantes, varejistas, operadoras e desenvolvedoras dos sistemas operacionais se posicionam no mercado concomitantemente e acabam confundindo os consumidores acerca da real responsabilidade e atividade de cada um deles. Os principais resultados do estudo 2 (fase descritiva) confirmam as hipóteses 1 (efeito principal), 3, 4 e 5 (efeito moderador de FU, SI e PA), indicando estatisticamente que as restrições da baixa renda afetam negativamente a adoção da inovação e que a facilidade de uso, simplicidade e preço acessível moderam positivamente essa relação. / Research on innovation and the low-income market usually focus on product development and marketing management, taking a top-down approach, from companies to consumers. This approach suggests prescriptive texts on management of multinational companies in both developed markets and emerging markets. From an individual point of view, it has given little attention to understanding the adoption of innovation by low-income consumers. This PhD dissertation aimed to investigate the concept of innovation from this perspective, taking a bottom-up approach, mainly focusing on consumers rather than companies. Therefore, the aim of the dissertation is to analyze the factors influencing the innovation adoption of products for low-income consumers. The empirical object of the dissertation consists in the smartphone market since is a product with innovative features and affordable to low-income consumers. The theoretical assumptions that support the dissertation consists of the constraints faced by consumers in the market of the base of the pyramid, which include low income, lack of information and knowledge and lack of confidence. These individual constraints caused by infrastructural problems affect negatively the adoption of innovation by consumers. This relationship supports the main effect of the dissertation model, the hypothesis 1. The literature and concepts used to support the research were the Antecedents of UTAUT 2, 4A\'s of Anderson and Billou, 12 Principles of Prahalad, Disruptive Innovation, Innovation Reverse, and Inclusive innovation. A review of these theories resulted in four concepts that we consider factors that influence adoption of innovation in low-income market, which are the Features and Benefits (CB), Ease of Use (FU), Simplicity (SI), and Affordability (PA) of products. These concepts resulting from the literature review supported the hypotheses 2, 3, 4 and 5 that analyze the moderating effect of these variables on the adoption of innovation. To achieve each of the two specific objectives of the dissertation, two studies were conducted. Study 1, exploratory phase, consisted of six focus groups conducted in Favela of Paraisópolis in Sao Paulo and a complementary inquiry of 11 in-depth interviews conducted in rural areas of South India. The study 1 aimed to identify the factors that influence adoption of innovation by low-income consumers. Study 2, descriptive phase, consisted of a survey carried out in three low-income areas in São Paulo city that aimed to analyze the direct relationship between the constraints of low-income consumers and the adoption of innovation (H1) and moderating effect of Features and Benefits (H2), Ease of Use (H3) Simplicity (H4) and Affordable Price (H5) of this relationship. Study 2 also included an additional research involving a survey carried out with high-income consumers. The main results of the study 1 (exploratory phase) show that the income constraints, lack of information, knowledge and confidence really affect the rate of adoption of innovation. In addition, more than the acquisition and purchase of products, adoption is directly related to the use of smartphones. Finally, we identified that there is an overlap of agents in the smartphone market that creates confusion for consumers. Different manufacturers, retailers, operators and developers of systems are positioned in the market concurrently and end up confusing consumers about the real responsibility and activity of each of them. The main results of the study 2 (descriptive phase) confirm the hypotheses 1 (main effect), 3, 4 and 5 (moderating effect of FU, SI, and PA), indicating statistically that the restrictions on low-income negatively affect the adoption of innovation and the ease of use, simplicity and affordability positively moderate this relationship.

Literature has identified the need to study socially pervasive ICT in context in order to understand how user acceptability of innovation varies according to different inputs. This thesis contributes to the existing body of knowledge on innovation studies (Chapter 2) and proposes a methodology for a conceptual model, for representing dynamic contextual changes in longitudinal studies. The foundation for this methodology is the 'Price of Convenience' (PoC) Model (Chapter 4). As a theory development Thesis, it deals with two related studies of socially pervasive ICT implementation: (1) voluntary adoption of innovations and (2) acceptance of new socially pervasive and ubiquitous ICT innovations (Chapters 6 and 7).

Literature has identified the need to study socially pervasive ICT in context in order to understand how user acceptability of innovation varies according to different inputs. This thesis contributes to the existing body of knowledge on innovation studies (Chapter 2) and proposes a methodology for a conceptual model, for representing dynamic contextual changes in longitudinal studies. The foundation for this methodology is the 'Price of Convenience' (PoC) Model (Chapter 4). As a theory development Thesis, it deals with two related studies of socially pervasive ICT implementation: (1) voluntary adoption of innovations and (2) acceptance of new socially pervasive and ubiquitous ICT innovations (Chapters 6 and 7).

Pesquisas sobre inovação e o mercado de baixa renda focam eminentemente no desenvolvimento de produtos e gestão de marketing, assumindo uma postura top-down, das empresas para os consumidores. Esta postura sugere textos prescritivos sobre gestão de empresas multinacionais, tanto em mercados desenvolvidos quanto em mercados emergentes. Do ponto de vista individual, tem se dada pouca atenção para compreender a adoção da inovação pelos consumidores de baixa renda. A presente tese busca investigar o conceito de inovação por esta perspectiva, assumindo uma postura bottom-up, focando principalmente nos consumidores. Desta forma, o objetivo da tese consiste em analisar os fatores que influenciam a adoção da inovação de produtos por consumidores de baixa renda. O recorte empírico da tese consiste no mercado de smartphones que é um produto com atributos inovadores e acessíveis aos consumidores de baixa renda. Os pressupostos teóricos que embasam a tese consistem nas restrições encontradas pelos consumidores do mercado da base da pirâmide, que englobam a baixa renda, falta de informação e conhecimento e falta de confiança. Essas restrições individuais causadas por problemas estruturais (transporte, educação, saúde, moradia, saneamento e etc.) afetam negativamente a adoção de inovação por consumidores. Essa relação sustenta o efeito principal do modelo da tese que consiste na hipótese 1. A literatura e conceitos utilizados para subsidiar a pesquisa foram Antecedentes do UTAUT 2, 4 As de Anderson e Billou, 12 Princípios de Prahalad, Inovação Disruptiva, Inovação Reversa e Inovação Inclusiva. A revisão destas teorias resultou em quatro conceitos que consideramos fatores influenciadores da adoção da inovação no mercado de baixa renda, que são as Características e Benefícios, Facilidade de Uso, Simplicidade e Preço Acessível dos produtos. Esses conceitos resultantes da revisão da literatura sustentaram as hipóteses 2, 3, 4 e 5 que analisam o efeito moderador dessas variáveis sobre a adoção da inovação. Para atingir cada um dos dois objetivos específicos da tese, dois estudos foram realizados. O estudo 1, fase exploratória, consistiu em seis grupos de foco realizados na Favela de Paraisópolis em São Paulo e uma pesquisa complementar com 11 entrevistas realizadas em regiões rurais do Sul da Índia. O estudo 1 objetivou identificar os fatores que influenciam a adoção da inovação por consumidores de baixa renda. O estudo 2, fase descritiva, consistiu em uma pesquisa de levantamento realizada em 3 regiões de baixa renda na cidade de São Paulo que objetivou analisar a relação direta entre as restrições dos consumidores de baixa renda e a adoção da inovação (H1) e o efeito moderador de Características e Benefícios (H2), Facilidade de Uso (H3), Simplicidade (H4) e Preço Acessível (H5) desta relação. O estudo 2 também contemplou uma pesquisa complementar de levantamento, realizada com consumidores de alta renda. Os principais resultados do estudo 1 (fase exploratória) revelam que as restrições de renda, informação, conhecimento e confiança afetam a taxa de adoção da inovação. Além disso, mais do que o aquisição e compra dos produtos, a adoção está diretamente relacionada ao uso dos smartphones. Por fim, identificamos que há uma sobreposição de agentes no mercado de smartphones que gera confusão para os consumidores. Diferentes empresas fabricantes, varejistas, operadoras e desenvolvedoras dos sistemas operacionais se posicionam no mercado concomitantemente e acabam confundindo os consumidores acerca da real responsabilidade e atividade de cada um deles. Os principais resultados do estudo 2 (fase descritiva) confirmam as hipóteses 1 (efeito principal), 3, 4 e 5 (efeito moderador de FU, SI e PA), indicando estatisticamente que as restrições da baixa renda afetam negativamente a adoção da inovação e que a facilidade de uso, simplicidade e preço acessível moderam positivamente essa relação. / Research on innovation and the low-income market usually focus on product development and marketing management, taking a top-down approach, from companies to consumers. This approach suggests prescriptive texts on management of multinational companies in both developed markets and emerging markets. From an individual point of view, it has given little attention to understanding the adoption of innovation by low-income consumers. This PhD dissertation aimed to investigate the concept of innovation from this perspective, taking a bottom-up approach, mainly focusing on consumers rather than companies. Therefore, the aim of the dissertation is to analyze the factors influencing the innovation adoption of products for low-income consumers. The empirical object of the dissertation consists in the smartphone market since is a product with innovative features and affordable to low-income consumers. The theoretical assumptions that support the dissertation consists of the constraints faced by consumers in the market of the base of the pyramid, which include low income, lack of information and knowledge and lack of confidence. These individual constraints caused by infrastructural problems affect negatively the adoption of innovation by consumers. This relationship supports the main effect of the dissertation model, the hypothesis 1. The literature and concepts used to support the research were the Antecedents of UTAUT 2, 4A\'s of Anderson and Billou, 12 Principles of Prahalad, Disruptive Innovation, Innovation Reverse, and Inclusive innovation. A review of these theories resulted in four concepts that we consider factors that influence adoption of innovation in low-income market, which are the Features and Benefits (CB), Ease of Use (FU), Simplicity (SI), and Affordability (PA) of products. These concepts resulting from the literature review supported the hypotheses 2, 3, 4 and 5 that analyze the moderating effect of these variables on the adoption of innovation. To achieve each of the two specific objectives of the dissertation, two studies were conducted. Study 1, exploratory phase, consisted of six focus groups conducted in Favela of Paraisópolis in Sao Paulo and a complementary inquiry of 11 in-depth interviews conducted in rural areas of South India. The study 1 aimed to identify the factors that influence adoption of innovation by low-income consumers. Study 2, descriptive phase, consisted of a survey carried out in three low-income areas in São Paulo city that aimed to analyze the direct relationship between the constraints of low-income consumers and the adoption of innovation (H1) and moderating effect of Features and Benefits (H2), Ease of Use (H3) Simplicity (H4) and Affordable Price (H5) of this relationship. Study 2 also included an additional research involving a survey carried out with high-income consumers. The main results of the study 1 (exploratory phase) show that the income constraints, lack of information, knowledge and confidence really affect the rate of adoption of innovation. In addition, more than the acquisition and purchase of products, adoption is directly related to the use of smartphones. Finally, we identified that there is an overlap of agents in the smartphone market that creates confusion for consumers. Different manufacturers, retailers, operators and developers of systems are positioned in the market concurrently and end up confusing consumers about the real responsibility and activity of each of them. The main results of the study 2 (descriptive phase) confirm the hypotheses 1 (main effect), 3, 4 and 5 (moderating effect of FU, SI, and PA), indicating statistically that the restrictions on low-income negatively affect the adoption of innovation and the ease of use, simplicity and affordability positively moderate this relationship.

The advancement of Information Communication and Technology, especially the vast development of the Internet, which makes information more widely available to more people, has brought changes to the publishing industry. This technological development includes the introduction of electronic information sources such as e-journals and e-books. The research aimed at investigating the adoption of views about and use of e-books at the University of Namibia. The research design was exploratory and the study adopted a mixed approach, in which both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Data collection was done through administering questionnaires, a focus group discussion and observation, combined with think-aloud methods. Both purposive sampling and random sampling techniques were used in selecting respondents. The results of this study reported a high awareness about e-books by students. The study also revealed frequent general use of e-books. The study further reported that respondents used both the non-library search engines and the library search tool as starting points to search for e-books, with the result that the use of the library provided e-books has not reached any significant level. The study also observed positive attitudes towards e-books by students, as they indicated a preference for e-books over printed books and reported using e-books mainly for course work and research purposes. In identifying factors that hinder the use of e-books, aspects such as slow Internet connections, lack of knowledge (including the awareness and skills required to utilise e-books), limited and/or lack of relevant e-books titles, preference for print, eye strain and difficulty reading on screen, as well as limited computers and lack of e-readers, were identified as major deterrents for the use of e-books. Additionally, the study found that the relative advantage, compatibility, trialability and observability have significant influence on the adoption of e-books. / Information Science / M. A.(Information Science)

Le développement des biocarburants soutenu par la communauté internationale connait un essor depuis le début des années 2000 à l'échelle mondiale pour réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre, répondre aux préoccupations énergétiques des pays industriels et diminuer la pauvreté énergétique dans les pays du sud. Cette stratégie rencontre plusieurs controverses qui portent sur les impacts socio-économiques des biocarburants et les trajectoires technologiques les mieux adaptées aux besoins de développement des pays d'Afrique sub-saharienne. L'objectif de la thèse est de comprendre les déterminants des processus d'innovation technologique sur la production des biocarburants. La thèse pose pour cela deux hypothèses. La première hypothèse structurée par le croisement entre les théories de la transition et les analyses systémiques de l'innovation repose sur le déterminisme institutionnel des processus d'innovation technologique qui structure l'émergence du secteur des biocarburants. La seconde hypothèse suppose que l'émergence et le développement du secteur bioénergétique résulte des conditions d'adoption micro-économiques et territoriales de la production des cultures énergétiques. Le test de ces hypothèses est réalisé en mobilisant un référentiel d'analyse en termes de système d'innovation dans le cas de la filière Jatropha au Burkina Faso. Les résultats soulignent que l'émergence des technologies biocarburants dans les pays d'Afrique subsaharienne est liée aux changements institutionnels induits par les crises énergétiques et environnementales. Ces changements institutionnels activent des ressources favorables à l'émergence et à la dissémination des technologies sur les biocarburants. Au Burkina Faso, ces changements sont impulsés par les politiques européennes et celles d'organisations sous régionales telles que l'UEMOA et la CEDEAO. Une modélisation économétrique permet de manière complémentaire de tester les conditions d'adoption micro-économique et d'implémentation des innovations technologiques sur les biocarburants. Les facteurs structurels de l'exploitation agricole (capital foncier, situation alimentaire, perception) ; la proximité des acteurs de la filière ; ainsi que les variables institutionnelles inhérentes au renforcement des capacités et compétences apparaissent structurants de ces processus d'adoption sur le Jatropha. Cette adoption dépend enfin des modèles technologiques qui permettent d'intégrer d'un point de vue territorial les phases de production de la matière première, transformation et utilisation dans un mécanisme de réponse aux besoins prioritaires du développement du Burkina Faso. / Biofuel development supported by the international community expands since the early 2000s globally to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, meet the energy concerns of industrial countries and reduce energy poverty in the countries of south. This strategy meets several controversies that address the socioeconomic impacts of biofuels and the most appropriate technological trajectories to the needs of developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the thesis is to understand the determinants of the process of technological innovation on the production of biofuels. The thesis raises two hypotheses for this. The first assumption structured by intersection between the theories of transition and systemic analysis of innovation based on institutional determinism of technological innovation process that structures the emergence of the biofuel sector. The second assumption is that the emergence and development of the bioenergy sector resulting conditions of micro-economic and territorial adoption of the production of energy crops. The test of these hypotheses is achieved by mobilizing an analytical reference in terms of innovation system in the case of the Jatropha sector in Burkina Faso. The results highlight the emergence of biofuels technologies in sub-Saharan Africa is related to institutional changes induced by the energy and environmental crises. These institutional changes enable favorable resources to the emergence and diffusion of technology on biofuels. In Burkina Faso, these changes are driven by European policies and those of sub-regional organizations such as UEMOA and ECOWAS. Econometric modeling allows complementary way to test the conditions of microeconomic adoption and implementation of technological innovations on biofuels. Structural factors of the farm (land capital, food situation, perception); the proximity of the actors of the sector; and institutional variables inherent in capacity building and skills appear structuring of these processes of adoption of Jatropha. This adoption also depends technological models that integrate a territorial perspective the production phases of the raw material, processing and use in a response mechanism to the priority needs of the development of Burkina Faso.