TY - JOUR T1 - Rural Living Labs: Inclusive Digital Transformation in the Countryside JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2021 A1 - Abdolrasoul Habibipour A1 - Johanna Lindberg A1 - Mari Runardotter A1 - Yomn Elmistikawy A1 - Anna Ståhlbröst A1 - Diana Chronéer KW - Components KW - digital transformation KW - Living lab KW - Rural living lab KW - Rural residents KW - user engagement AB - Digital transformation (DT) has received increasing attention in recent years. Up until now, most of the current studies focus on digital transformation in advanced and dense societies, especially urban areas and technologies. Hence, the phenomenon of DT is under-researched in the context of rural and sparsely populated contexts. This study aims at exploring how a rural living lab (RLL) can be shaped and how this approach can be designed to support digital transformation processes in rural contexts. In so doing, following a design science research methodology (DSRM) approach, we have made an artefact (that is, RLL framework) that is an "instantiation" that supports user centric digitalization of rural areas. The designed framework is developed based on the key components of "traditional" and "urban" living labs, as well as empirical data which was collected within the context of the DigiBy project. The DigiBy project aims at conducting DT pilots in rural areas to elevate peoples' understanding of digitalization and the application of digitalization opportunities for service development in rural areas in the north of Sweden. As a result of these studies, five key components that guide the design of digital transformation pilots in rural areas emerged, namely: 1) rural context, 2) digitalization, 3) governance, control, and business mode, 4) methods facilitating DT processes, and 5) quintuple helix actors. We also offer an empirically derived definition of the rural living lab concept, followed by avenues for future research. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 11 UR - timreview.ca/article/1465 IS - 9/10 U1 - Luleå University of Technology Abdolrasoul (Rasoul) Habibipour (Ph.D.) is a postdoctoral researcher in Information Systems at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden and is Managing director of Botnia Living Lab, Sweden. His research focuses on participatory design and user engagement in information systems development processes, with a particular emphasis on users’ motivations and needs. Abdolrasoul has previously worked in information technology (IT) projects for more than 13 years as a project leader and project manager as well as software designer, developer and programmer. He has been involved in teaching and supervising students at the bachelor, master and PhD levels and has published several journal and conference articles in his research topic. He also serves as guest editor, track chair, and reviewer in different international conferences and scientific journals within the information systems field. U2 - Luleå University of Technology Johanna Lindberg is a project manager and PhD candidate at Luleå university of technology who has more than 20 years of experience working with regional and local development in different subject areas. She has participated in the development of political goal management both from a researcher's perspective and from an official’s perspective. In short, she has worked to achieve the national political goals in several policy areas: environmental, gender equality, broadband, digitalization, culture, leisure, attractive sustainable growth, commercial service, payment service, and public health policy goals. U3 - Luleå University of Technology Associate Prof. Mari Runardotter holds a PhD in Social Informatics from Luleå University of Technology. Her research focuses on social, societal and organizational effects of IT, primarily in the areas of digitalisation/digital transformation and service innovation. She use theories and methods for user engagement and involvement, that emphasize social, societal, cultural, organizational and gender aspects in the interaction between humans and information systems. U4 - Luleå University of Technology Yomn Elmistikawy is a PHD candidate at Luleå university of technology. Her research focuses on the complexity of stakeholder involvement in the digital innovation process. She explores the roles stakeholders adopt, as well as, the interconnectedness and conflicts within these roles. She has participated in 5G related research projects focusing on the end user needs. She has experience in design science research and its use in designing solutions for information sharing during industrial crisis. U5 - Luleå University of Technology Anna Ståhlbröst is a chair professor in Information systems at Luleå University of Technology. Her research is focused on user engagement in innovation processes, with special interest in service innovation designed to create an added value for its users. Annas research is related to different application areas such as IT-use in everyday contexts, Smart Cities and Internet of Things. Anna has participated in numerous European and national innovation and research projects and she has been published in several scientific journals as well as in books and at conferences. ER -