Social Aspects Influencing Relationships in Digital Innovation Networks -- The Smart Lock Case

Digital innovation processes are becoming more and more networked, where actors are growing dependent on each other´s competences, resources and knowledge. In networks developing digital innovation, actors need to identify, mobilize, and integrate diverse and heterogeneous knowledge resources to be able to innovate successfully. Social aspects seem to be important at the boundaries of communities where heterogeneous actors connect, negotiate, and adjust to each other´s perspectives. The aim of this paper is to explain how social aspects influence changes in relationships in digital innovation networks. A case study approach was selected to study events involving multiple actors in an innovation and development project aimed at introducing technology that aids elderly, home care personnel and next of kin by improving the management of home care visits. We describe how social aspects such as trust, interest, and commitment among actors influence the changes in relationships.