Gandon, Chrystel; MA
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, 1996
MASS COMMUNICATIONS (0708); SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
This case study investigates the chances of survival of the French videotext
system, Minitel, in light of
the increasing development of the Internet in France. The development of both
Minitel and Internet are
described in their specific economic, political, cultural and social contexts.
Secondary data are used to
document the influence and interests of different forces: the State, the public
firms, private firms, and
marketplace forces. Primary data collection was limited to open-ended free-ranging
discussions with 27
managers of Minitel-using firms. We find Minitel has reached maturity in its
life cycle, while the Internet is
at the beginning of the innovation development process. Rogers' Diffusion of
Innovations hypotheses
(1983, 1995) provide a point of departure for the analysis.
Social
Systems Simulation Group
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