This paper proposes a simple terminology for understanding and dealing with two current phenomena; we suggest calling them heavyweight and lightweight IT. Heavyweight IT denotes the well-established knowledge regime of large systems, developing ever more sophisticated solutions through advanced integration. Lightweight IT is suggested as a term for the new knowledge regime of mobile apps, sensors and bring-your-own-device, also called consumerisation and Internet-of-Things. The key aspect of lightweight IT is not only the cheaper and more available technology compared with heavyweight IT, but the fact that its deployment is frequently done by users or vendors, bypassing the IT departments. Our theoretical lens is generativity, the idea that complex phenomena arise from interactions among basic elements. In the context of IT, generativity helps to explain the creative potential of flexible digital technology for knowledgeable professionals and users. The research questions are: how is generativity different in heavyweight and lightweight IT, and what is the generative relationship between heavyweight and lightweight IT? These questions were investigated through a study of four cases in the health sector. Our findings show that (i) generativity enfolds differently in heavyweight and lightweight IT and (ii) generativity in digital infrastructures is supported by the interaction of loosely coupled heavyweight and lightweight IT. The practical design implication is that heavyweight and lightweight IT should be only loosely integrated, both in terms of technology, standardisation and organisation.

中文翻译：

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生成式创新：轻量级和重量级 IT 的比较

本文提出了一个简单的术语来理解和处理两种当前的现象；我们建议称它们为重量级和轻量级 IT。重量级 IT 表示大型系统的成熟知识体系，通过高级集成开发更复杂的解决方案。轻量级 IT 被建议作为移动应用程序、传感器和自带设备的新知识体系的一个术语，也称为消费化和物联网。与重量级 IT 相比，轻量级 IT 的关键不仅在于技术更便宜、更可用，而且还在于它的部署经常由用户或供应商完成，绕过 IT 部门。我们的理论视角是生成性，即复杂现象源于基本元素之间的相互作用。在 IT 环境中，创造力有助于为知识渊博的专业人士和用户解释灵活的数字技术的创造潜力。研究问题是：重量级和轻量级 IT 的生成性有何不同，重量级和轻量级 IT 之间的生成关系是什么？这些问题是通过对卫生部门的四个案例的研究来调查的。我们的研究结果表明，(i) 生成性在重量级和轻量级 IT 中的包含不同，以及 (ii) 数字基础设施中的生成性受到松散耦合的重量级和轻量级 IT 的相互作用的支持。实际的设计含义是重量级和轻量级 IT 应该只是松散地集成，无论是在技术、标准化还是组织方面。