Mobile information systems — executives' view

The concepts of travelling executive and executives' mobile information system are first defined in this paper. The main findings are in the form of collected data and opinions concluded from our personal discussions with 49 executives in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Finland concerning the nature of the work of executives and the usage of information technology (IT) to support their work today. The near future expectations of the executives are also analysed, especially concerning the mobile use of IT services in order to construct executives' holistic view of mobile computing. The use of IT services was found to be very widespread. Big differences were found: some of the executives had clear positive attitudes for using several mobile IT services but many had not yet realized the potential advantages of these services. Many reasons, e.g. certain cultural differences, were found to explain differences in these four countries.     

Technology acceptance model for the use of information technology in universities

The problem described in this research is to identify which factors influence on engineering students about their acceptance of an academic administrative information system in private universities in Lima, Peru. The objective is to identify factors by proposing a Technology Acceptance Model of an Academic and Administrative Information System. University population is described, both private and public. The investigation is based on two private universities. The results show the relationship between the selected variables. Finally, recommendations are given to act on the variables that determine the acceptance of information technology.     

The impact of information technology on individual and firm marketing performance

The perceived impacts of information technology use on firm marketing organization performance are examined. A theoretical model is presented linking organizational and end-user traits, information quality, system/service quality, industry traits, and tasks performed using a system to perceptions of organizational performance impacts through ease of system use, perceived individual performance impacts (i.e. perceived usefulness), attitudes toward using the system, and system use. The empirical examination uses a mail survey of US marketing executives to collect the data. The quantitative technique used is structural equation modeling. The results indicate that measures of organizational traits, individual traits, information quality, system/service quality, and tasks performed using the system impact perceived performance of the marketing organization mediated individual performance impacts (i.e. perceived usefulness), attitudes toward using the system, and system use. Managerial implications and conclusions are presented based upon these results.     

The impact of information technology on individual and firm marketing performance

The perceived impacts of information technology use on firm marketing organization performance are examined. A theoretical model is presented linking organizational and end-user traits, information quality, system/service quality, industry traits, and tasks performed using a system to perceptions of organizational performance impacts through ease of system use, perceived individual performance impacts (i.e. perceived usefulness), attitudes toward using the system, and system use. The empirical examination uses a mail survey of US marketing executives to collect the data. The quantitative technique used is structural equation modeling. The results indicate that measures of organizational traits, individual traits, information quality, system/service quality, and tasks performed using the system impact perceived performance of the marketing organization mediated individual performance impacts (i.e. perceived usefulness), attitudes toward using the system, and system use. Managerial implications and conclusions are presented based upon these results.     

Patterns of senior executives' personal use of computers

This paper reports on a study of senior executives and how their use of the computer as a personal productivity tool has changed over time. Using process methodologies, four distinct patterns of use were identified. The episodes and encounters associated with these patterns were explicated and are reported. The importance of enabling executives to maintain their PC expertise, regardless of its level is highlighted. This paper demonstrates the application of process methodologies to produce a deeper understanding of executives as end-users.     

Exploring the effects of direct experience on IT use: An organizational field study

Empirical studies have investigated the effect of attitude and behavior on IT acceptance in organizations but yielded ambiguous results. Possibly they have not effectively accounted for the moderating effects of experience gained through direct interaction with the target technology. We examined the moderating effect of the length of direct experience on IT acceptance relationships and constructs. Using multi-group invariance analysis, we demonstrated that relationships between key IT acceptance constructs differed, depending on the user's experience. The incorporation of direct experience can lead to convergent results and contribute to further understanding of the process. We discuss some implications from the knowledge that IT use is a dynamic process and suggest that IT management must account for direct experience in their decision making.     

The effect of service employees’ technology readiness on technology acceptance

As much of the work of service employees is supported by IT, the quality of the service often depends on how the technology is used. Most employees only use a fraction of the functionality available on their desk-top. This may also depend on their personality. We performed research on the relationship of personality and technology acceptance.     

Examining the effects of information system characteristics and perceived usefulness on post adoption usage of information systems

Understanding post adoption behavior has emerged as an important issue in IS research. Organizations have invested in a plethora of Information Systems (IS) and the benefits that can be gained from these systems depend on their usage. Prior research has examined factors that impact users’ intention to continue using the IS. However, comprehending post adoption IS usage behavior has not received much attention. Building on TAM and IS success model, this study proposes that information quality and system integration influence perceived IS usefulness which will then drive post adoption usage of the IS. Post adoption IS usage is conceptualized as a broad concept that includes extended usage and exploratory usage. Data (N = 1032) was collected to test the model, in the context of a web-based student information system that students use to manage their academic work. The results show that at the post adoption stage, perceived IS usefulness is a good predictor of extended usage and exploratory usage. However, surprisingly IS usefulness was found to explain a much larger variance in exploratory usage. Information quality and system integration were found to influence IS usefulness. However, information quality also has a direct affect on extended usage, while system integration directly influenced exploratory usage. Assessment of the moderating role of gender and internet experience on model relationships reveals interesting insights. Implications are drawn for future research and practice.     

信息技术服务的业务模式研究

信息技术（IT）服务企业所采用的业务模式不仅直接影响着信息技术服务提供和传递的质量,而且对整个IT服务行业未来的发展模式也将产生重要影响。分析了信息技术服务的内涵,指出IT服务具有生产性服务的特征;在此基础上,分别按照服务需求的分离点和IT服务的实现方式,对IT服务企业的业务模式进行了分类研究;并对IT服务业中面向产品、面向服务和租赁的3种业务模式及其特征进行了分析,为促进IT服务业的快速发展提供基础。     

Information technology (IT) in Saudi Arabia: Culture and the acceptance and use of IT

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), a model of the user acceptance of IT, synthesizes elements from several prevailing user acceptance models. It has been credited with explaining a larger proportion of the variance of ‘intention to use’ and ‘usage behavior’ than do preceding models. However, it has not been validated in non-Western cultures. Using a survey sample collected from 722 knowledge workers using desktop computer applications on a voluntary basis in Saudi Arabia, we examined the relative power of a modified version of UTAUT in determining ‘intention to use’ and ‘usage behavior’. We found that the model explained 39.1% of intention to use variance, and 42.1% of usage variance. In addition, drawing on the theory of cultural dimensions, we hypothesized and tested the similarities and differences between the North American and Saudi validations of UTAUT in terms of cultural differences that affected the organizational acceptance of IT in the two societies.     

Investigating mobile wireless technology adoption: An extension of the technology acceptance model

This research represents a theoretical extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which IS researchers have used to explain technologies’ perceived usefulness and individuals intention to use it. The authors developed a model, referred to as the Mobile Wireless Technology Acceptance Model (MWTAM), to test the relationship between theoretical constructs spanning technological influence processes (Perceived Ubiquity, and Perceived Reachability) and cognitive influence processes (Job Relevance, Perceived Usefulness, and Perceived Ease of Use) and their impact on Behavioral Intention. MWTAM is assessed using data collected from an online survey and analyzed using AMOS 5.0. Results provide evidence to support MWTAM as both the technological and cognitive influence processes accounted for 58.7% of the variance explained in an individual’s Behavioral Intention toward using mobile wireless technology. Additionally, the path coefficients between constructs ranged from 0.241 to 0.572 providing further evidence to support the theoretical extension of TAM.

The acceptance of information technology innovations in hospitals: differences between early and late adopters

The increasing maturity of information technologies (IT) in hospitals and their infrastructure development is improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. In these circumstances, an investigation of the diffusion of IT in this context would provide some insight into adopters’ behaviours and further the diffusion of IT in the near future. The purpose of this paper is to conduct an investigation of the diffusion of IT’s innovations in hospitals. Technology acceptance model and innovation diffusion theory have been applied in this research trying to find factors that permit an effective discrimination between early and late adopters. The differences in characteristics between these two categories are assessed and implications based on the research findings are discussed.     

Senior government executives' use of the internet: A Bruneian scenario

In gearing up the task of e-Government, the governments of the various economies are investing heavily in Information Technology (IT). The success of e-Government program therefore depends upon the IT literacy and skills of the senior government executives, especially in the use of the Internet. This study focuses on 100 senior government executives of the 10 different ministries of Brunei Darussalam. The results indicate that 70% of the senior executives have positive attitudes about the Internet. Results further show that 50% of these senior executives are in fact using the Internet and 66% of them are underutilizing the technology by just sending and receiving e-mails. The study further develops a normative model by using Davis's Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and by adding external variables. A Structural Equation Modelling technique is used to test the parsimony of the model. The final model has confirmed that external variables, PC self-efficacy and task variety contribute toward both the beliefs perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Only perceived ease of use contributes in determining the attitude that further predicts the Internet use of the senior government executives.     

Senior government executives' use of the internet: A Bruneian scenario

In gearing up the task of e-Government, the governments of the various economies are investing heavily in Information Technology (IT). The success of e-Government program therefore depends upon the IT literacy and skills of the senior government executives, especially in the use of the Internet. This study focuses on 100 senior government executives of the 10 different ministries of Brunei Darussalam. The results indicate that 70% of the senior executives have positive attitudes about the Internet. Results further show that 50% of these senior executives are in fact using the Internet and 66% of them are underutilizing the technology by just sending and receiving e-mails. The study further develops a normative model by using Davis's Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and by adding external variables. A Structural Equation Modelling technique is used to test the parsimony of the model. The final model has confirmed that external variables, PC self-efficacy and task variety contribute toward both the beliefs perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Only perceived ease of use contributes in determining the attitude that further predicts the Internet use of the senior government executives.     

Australian managers'' perceptions, attitudes and use of information technology

Survey data collected from 268 managers were used to examine the direct application and importance of Information Technology (IT), specifically computer application systems, to the jobs and skills that they possessed. The results showed that the majority of participants had access to and used at least the traditional computer applications, namely word processing, spreadsheets and presentation graphics. The influence of a training exercise on participants' attitudes towards specific systems and concepts was also examined. The result demonstrated a favourable shift in attitude as an outcome of the management training program.     

The use of technology as one of the possible means of performing instructor tasks: Putting technology acceptance in context

For many instructors in higher education, use of a learning management system (LMS) is de facto mandatory. Nevertheless, instructors often have much freedom in deciding which functionalities of the LMS they use; that is, whether they perform each individual instructor task using the LMS. Alternatively, they may perform one specific instructor task using alternative means, or, quite often, not perform it at all. The current Technology Acceptance model (TAM) fails to describe this decision process accurately, as TAM (1) does not focus on the level of the individual task; (2) does not make a distinction between not performing a task and performing a task using alternative means; and (3) does not recognize one important factor that affects the performance of a specific task—task importance. A test of three different models shows that the decision process is best represented as a two-step process. First, influenced by task importance, a choice is made to either perform a specific task or not. Second, after the decision has been made to perform the task, and influenced by the usefulness and ease of use of the LMS, a choice is made between performing the task using the LMS and using alternative means.     

An empirical test of three mediation models for the relationship between personal innovativeness and user acceptance of technology

Understanding the drivers of technology adoption remains an important organizational problem. Our research focused on a personality trait that is relevant to the adoption of technological innovation: personal innovativeness in IT (PIIT). We examined the causal pathways by which this trait affects behavioral intention by testing three alternative models based on innovation diffusion theory, the theory of planned behavior, and an integrative perspective that combines them. Data were collected from 196 hospital administrators in South Korea. The target innovation was an e-commerce purchasing system. Testing across all three models resulted in complete mediation, indicating that PIIT is a strong predictor of intended use of IT but it exerts its influence by altering the mediators. Our integrative perspective provides a more complete account of the causal mechanisms underlying the relationships as well as unique insights that cannot be obtained with a single theory driven model.     

A longitudinal experimental study on the interaction effects of persuasion quality, user training, and first-hand use on user perceptions of new information technology

While prior research has investigated the main effects of external factors on user perceptions of a new IT, little work has been into the interaction effect of external factors on user perceptions. In a longitudinal experimental study, we examined the effect of the quality of persuasive argument, user training, and first-hand use on user perceptions of the new technology over time. We found that the effect of argument quality on users’ perceived ease of use was greater when users had no training. However, we did not find the same effect occurred due to perceived usefulness. We also found that first-hand use changed users’ perceived usefulness more over time when users received high quality arguments or when they had no training. While we found that first-hand use changed users’ perceived ease of use more when users received high quality arguments, first-hand use did not change users’ perceived ease of use differently whether they had or had not received prior training.     

Factors driving the adoption of m-learning: An empirical study

Even if m-learning is spreading rapidly in many regions of the world, research addressing the driving factors of m-learning adoption is in short supply. Built on the Technology Acceptance Model, this paper proposes a hypothesized model of m-learning adoption. Employing structural equation modeling technology, the model was assessed based on the data collected from 230 participants using a survey questionnaire. Results indicate that perceived near-term/long-term usefulness and personal innovativeness have significant influence on m-learning adoption intention, while perceived long-term usefulness significantly affects the perceived near-term usefulness. Personal innovativeness is a predictor of both the perceived ease of use and perceived long-term usefulness as well. Of all variables, the perceived long-term usefulness contributes to the most influential predictor of m-learning adoption. The model accounts for approximately 60.8% of the variance of behavioural intention. The results indicted that offing high-quality contents complying with students’ future targets is key to the success of m-learning in China. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Exploring influencing factors of technology use for active and healthy ageing support in older adults

ABSTRACT

Aim of this study is to investigate the influence of technological and social cognitive factors for the use of sensor-based technologies for active and healthy ageing (AHA) support by older adults. In a mixed methods approach, data was initially obtained from an online questionnaire completed by older health technology users and used in a regression analysis, where factors from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) served as predictors for health technology use (HTU). Further, in-depth interviews were conducted with older adults to gain insights into technology use and physical activity behaviour of older adults. The regression analysis showed that the TAM and SCT factors accounted for a significant proportion of variance (39.5%) in HTU. Significant predictors of HTU were physical activity (.399**), social support (.287*), and expectations regarding individual health (.440*) and physical appearance (?.470**), indicating physical activity as mediator for HTU. The qualitative analysis indicated the conflation of technology support with social environments as key for physical activity behaviour in older adults. The findings indicate physical activity as a mediator in HTU by older adults and suggest that the consideration of social factors in health technology design may facilitate the uptake of AHA technologies.