Beyond adoption : the role of relational readiness in enterprise mobile computing. A study of enterprise mobile computing-as-a-service

This thesis investigates the adoption of Enterprise Mobile Computing-as-a-Service (EMCaaS) in business-to-business (B2B) settings, where platform-based service models increasingly shape digital transformation. Adoption outcomes vary markedly, influenced not only by technological readiness, organisational capacity, and environmental pressures, but also by the relational dynamics between adopters, providers, channel partners, and regulators. In practice, these interdependencies often determine whether adoption moves beyond pilot activity into sustained operational use. An abductive, interpretivist research design was employed, combining 11 semi-structured interviews (including a reflexive self-interview) with document analysis from three focal organisations. Data were analysed thematically and interpreted through the Technology Organisation–Environment (TOE) framework, Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, and Value Co-Creation (VCC) to examine adoption from structural, perceptual, and interactional perspectives. The analysis identified collaboration as a distinct, cross-cutting determinant of adoption, supporting an extension of TOE into a (TOE+C) model. It further introduces Relational Readiness—comprising systemic trust, systemic alignment, and systemic co ownership—as a central organisational capability that activates structural enablers, stabilises stakeholder negotiations, and converts adoption intent into implementation traction. The thesis contributes a refined explanation of adoption in interdependent B2B service ecosystems and provides a practical diagnostic for assessing and strengthening Relational Readiness across three collaborative phases: co-framing, co-designing, and co-sustaining.

Grantor dc:publisher

Heriot-Watt University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Ferraz, Carlos

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Siedlok, Doctor Frank
• Harris, Doctor Shannon

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://www.ros.hw.ac.uk/handle/10399/5401

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ros.hw.ac.uk/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Aros.hw.ac.uk%3A10399%2F5401