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Abstract
This thesis argues that the Digitally-Enabled Social Innovation (DESI) has contributed to generate a large number of important social benefits for the communities across the globe over the last decade. Yet, the essence of DESI has not been discussed to a certain degree through empirical studies. In particular, the process of attaining DESI from internal intervention perspective remains ambiguous. However, conceptualised process models based on the rich empirical data have the great potential to make the contribution to DESI and Information Systems (IS) research. Therefore, this thesis is intended to highlight the significance of studying process theory in developing a better understating of DESI, and eventually raise the awareness of IS researchers in exploring the social implications of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the contemporary society.
To attain the research goals, this thesis will introduce the emerging phenomena which provide the in-depth and comprehensive insight of DESI to answer the research question: How do communities achieve DESI? Mainly, three examples of DESI are selected and discussed, they are Digital Inclusion, Digital Empowerment and Digital Entrepreneurship. By identifying their traits and research gaps of each phenomenon, this proposal argues that Self-determination, Self-organization and Belief-Action-Outcome are the appropriate theoretical foundations to explore the underlying mechanisms of achieving DESI.
Accordingly, in this thesis, interpretive case study method will be applied to address the research questions in order to achieve the proposed research goals. Using three case studies of Shaji Taobao Village, Daiji Taobao Village and Peixie Taobao Village, the agriculture communities in remote area of rural China that have grown into a vibrant e-commerce hub, the process model of each phenomenon will be depicted and validated through the empirical data.
Last but not the least, a comparative study is also conducted, which applies Resource-based Review (RBV), to identify the differences and similarities on community-driven development among three cases. Under such similar and content-rich phenomenon of DESI, these cases are explored again with the goals to support the rationality of my research design and further validate my research outcomes.