How is technology adopted at ecosystem level? Evidence from the Italian pharmaceutical ecosystem

The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of technology adoption within ecosystems by employing the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework in the specific context of ecosystems. This inquiry is executed through a multiple case study concentrated on the Italian pharmaceutical supply chain ecosystem, where RFID technology has been embraced to augment operational efficiency among its participants. Our findings indicate that the adoption of technology at the ecosystem level is influenced by several key variables, including contextual factors, alignment of priorities, initiation by a distinguished entity, technology establishment, and consortium involvement as a facilitating factor. The results and implications derived from our research contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of the TOE framework in supporting technology adoption from an ecosystem perspective, thereby enhancing the current knowledge base on this phenomenon.