1st Edition

Digital Infrastructures for Business Innovation

By Magda David Hercheui, Tony Cornford Copyright 2025
    222 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    222 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Digital infrastructures are the commonly used technologies, systems, products and platforms which businesses use to conduct commerce, partnerships and transactions. Chief among these infrastructures is the Internet – an infrastructure which is remarkable for its all-pervasive presence in our daily lives – while others include cloud computing, social media, mobile technology, blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies.

    This book introduces the key concepts and models to help you understand digital infrastructures, their technologies, their dynamic evolution, and the ways that businesses can exploit them. The primary focus is on processes of innovation and change that are embodied in new digital infrastructures. The book takes a balanced approach, presenting easy-to-understand technical information and pragmatic business analysis. The book’s concise chapters develop the topics carefully, with clear language and many real-world examples. The intended audience includes management students on advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as business professionals and entrepreneurs.

    Readers at all levels will value the book’s explanation of the technical elements of digital infrastructures and will find insights they can use in developing their own business ideas, in start-ups or existing enterprises.

    Preface

    Chapter 1: Infrastructures: something old...something new

    Chapter 2: Innovation…something new

    Chapter 3: The origins of the Internet

    Chapter 4: A layered model of digital infrastructures

    Chapter 5: Emerging architecture

    Chapter 6: Economics perspectives

    Chapter 7: Evolving digital infrastructures

    Chapter 8: Business models and digital platforms

    Chapter 9: The World Wide Web (WWW)

    Chapter 10: The cloud and cloud services

    Chapter 11: Mobile technology

    Chapter 12: Social media

    Chapter 13: Metaverse: the 3D Internet

    Chapter 14: Artificial Intelligence: from algorithm to infrastructure

    Chapter 15: Issues of governance and regulation

    Chapter 16: The future of digital infrastructures for business innovation

    Index

    Biography

    Magda David Hercheui is the Programme Director for the MSc Management and an Associate Professor (Education) in Project Management and Innovation at the UCL School of Management. 

    Tony Cornford is Associate Professor in Information Systems in the Department of Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science.