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In praise of ambiguity: a commentary on exaptation
Author(s) -
Beunza Daniel
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european management review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1740-4762
pISSN - 1740-4754
DOI - 10.1057/palgrave.emr.1500087
Subject(s) - exaptation , ambiguity , novelty , context (archaeology) , praise , phenomenon , epistemology , computer science , sociology , cognitive science , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , history , archaeology , programming language , genetics , biology
When changes in the context of a technology prompt users to alter the way they employ it, the potential for novelty opens up. This phenomenon, known as ‘exaptation,’ is explored in a simulation by Villani et al. The authors show that exaptation, or innovation through reuse, is more likely to take place when a number of contextual characteristics are present: ambiguity, noise and room for misinterpretation. The results provide strong support to the sociological literature on ambiguity and multivocality. The article also incorporates material artifacts in the methodology of economics.