Online PhD Defence Tatjana Schneidmüller
In her dissertation 'Engaging with Emerging Technologies: Socio-cognitive foundations of incumbent response’, Tatjana Schneidmüller studies the socio-cognitive dynamics within technology emergence. In three studies, she explores when and how different social communities engage with emerging technologies based on their expertise and field affiliation, examines the effect of their engagement on incumbent response, and highlights the importance of established regulation for incumbent experimentation with emerging technologies. Tatjana Schneidmüller defended her dissertation on Friday, 09 October 2020 at 11:30h. Her supervisors were Prof. Henk W. Volberda (University of Amsterdam), Prof. Shahzad Ansari (University of Cambridge). Other members of the Doctoral Committee are Dr Murat Tarakci (RSM), Prof. Andreas König (University of Passau), Prof. Vareska van de Vrande (RSM), Prof. Jean-Philippe Vergne (Ivey Busines School), Prof. Joep Cornelissen (RSM), and Prof. Paolo Boccardelli (Luiss Business School) .
About Tatjana Schneidmüller
Tatjana Schneidmüller (1987) has obtained her Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration degree in 2011 from the University of Groningen. She then continued her studies at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam where she obtained two Master of Science degrees in Finance and Investments and Strategic Management in 2013. Having completed her studies, she took a two-year break from academia to work as an investment fund auditor at KPMG Luxembourg. In December 2015 Tatjana returned to the Rotterdam School of Management once again. This time, to pursue her PhD at the department of Strategy & Entrepreneurship, under the supervision of Professor Henk W. Volberda and Professor Shahzad Ansari.
Tatjana’s research focuses on how established organizations can navigate discontinuous technological change; and focuses specifically on the case of fintech (financial technology) in financial services. Her research has received several awards, including the runner-up Best Paper at Fintech Toronto 2017, Best Paper EURAM 2018, Best Paper AOM, TIM Division, 2018, is currently nominated for the SMS PhD Paper Prize 2020, and has been published in the Sloan Management Review. Furthermore, she has presented her work at various international conferences, including the Academy of Management, the Asian Academy of Management, the European Academy of Management, the European Group of Organizational Studies, the European Theory Development Workshop, Fintech Toronto, and the Strategic Management Society. Tatjana will be continuing her academic career as an assistant professor at LUISS Business School in Rome.
Thesis Abstract
Managing technological change is existential for incumbent firms. The early episodes of technological change, in particular, are critical. In these early stages, different audiences engage in social debates and negotiations based on their unique and self-interested perceptions, creating an urge for organizational action. To shed further light on this process, I study the socio-cognitive dynamics within technology emergence. In three studies, I explore when and how different social communities engage with emerging technologies based on their expertise and field affiliation, examine the effect of their engagement on incumbent response, and highlight the importance of established regulation for incumbent experimentation with emerging technologies. I find that audience heterogeneity matters. Not only do audiences engage at different times and modes with early technological change, but also that some audiences wield significant power over the engagement of others. Moreover, while expertise appears important for influencing the engagement of other audiences, my results indicate that incumbents are likely to distrust the engagement of experts. Lastly, I find support for the idea that extant regulation may significantly restrict incumbent experimentation with new technologies, particularly for non-innovating firms. Overall, my research confirms that audiences matter. Yet, it also highlights that our current understanding of the socio-cognitive dynamics in technology emergence is incomplete.
