Promise in peril? How an innovation development project surfaced conflicting institutional logics

Utility contractors face challenges in mapping network locations and are thus<br/>exploring how innovative; easier-to-use technology such as the 3D scanner could<br/>resolve these issues. While involved in the development of this technology at a<br/>contractor; we observed stakeholders initially embracing the project; but suddenly<br/>exhibiting critical and less supportive behaviour. In trying to understand this<br/>surprising turn, we employed institutional logics; which suggest that people’s<br/>thoughts and actions are influenced by a wider context. We applied this perspective<br/>to identify how the 3D-scanner technology interacted with multiple institutional<br/>logics. To this end, we interviewed all involved stakeholders and used an abductive<br/>coding process to eventually identify two conflicting logics. Initially, a project logic<br/>prevailed; driven by efficiency and time; which legitimised supportive actions during<br/>the design stage. Later, we found an emerging surveying logic; driven by precision<br/>and control. This triggered critical thoughts about the 3D scanner and caused some<br/>stakeholders to retract from the project. Our findings illustrate how two parallel<br/>institutional logics can jeopardise a seemingly promising innovation when a<br/>suppressed logic surfaces and creates conflict.