Perceived usefulness,user involvement and behavioral intention: an empirical study of ERP implementation

Many firms have implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in the past few years. The expensive nature of these systems requires that effective usage of these systems be attained in order for an organization to derive the expected benefits from the technology. This study looks at the influence that perceived usefulness, user involvement, argument for change, prior usage and ease of use have on the behavioral intention to use an ERP system. A mail survey was used to collect data in an organization that was implementing an ERP system. A total of 571 responses were obtained. The results indicate that users perception of the perceived usefulness, ease of use of the technology, and the users’ level of intrinsic involvement all affect their intention to use the technology. The results seem to suggest that managerial efforts aimed at increasing the users’ perceptions of the usefulness and personal relevance of the technology will contribute to implementation success, where success is defined as effectual usage of the technology. The paper ends with possible extensions to this study.     

Predicting older adults’ perceptions about a computer system designed for seniors

Although computer technology may be particularly useful for older adults (e.g., for communication and information access), they have been slower adopters than their younger counterparts. Perceptions about computers, such as perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, can pose barriers to acceptance and universal access (Davis in MIS Q 13(3):319–340, 1989). Therefore, understanding the precursors to these perceptions for older adult non-computer users may provide insight into the reasons for their non-adoption. The authors examined the relationship between perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of a computer interface designed for older users and demographic, technology experience, cognitive abilities, personality, and attitudinal variables in a sample of 300 non-computer-using adults between the ages 64 and 98, selected for being at high risk for social isolation. The strongest correlates of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were technology experience, personality dimensions of agreeableness and openness to experience, and attitudes. The emotional stability personality dimension was significantly correlated with perceived ease of use though not perceived usefulness. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that attitudes (i.e., self-efficacy, comfort, and interest) remained predictive of perceptions of usefulness and ease of use when technology experience and personality variables were accounted for. Given that attitudes are more malleable than other variables, such as demographic and cognitive abilities, these findings highlight the potential to increase technology acceptance through positive experiences, appropriate training, and educational campaigns about the benefits of computers and other technologies.     

Empirical study on continuance intentions towards E-Learning 2.0 systems

Although E-Learning 2.0 has played a significant role in training and development within the organisational environment, after an initial acceptance, its use is frequently discontinued. Prior studies offered insights into participation in E-Learning; however, there is limited research on continuance intention towards E-Learning 2.0 systems in organisational contexts. Furthermore, the most widely used research models, such as technology acceptance model (TAM), neglect the interactive social processes in E-Learning 2.0. Therefore, this study proposes a unified model integrating the TAM, the information system success model and social motivation theories to investigate continuance intentions towards E-Learning 2.0 in an organisational context. A sample of 284 participants from companies in China that have already implemented E-Learning 2.0 systems took part in this study. Structural equation modelling was conducted to test the research hypotheses. The results show that the unified model provides a more comprehensive understanding of the cognitive processes and behaviours related to this context: (1) perceived usefulness and attitude were critical to the continuance intention towards an E-Learning 2.0 system; (2) perceived usefulness was a significant mediator of the effects from perceived ease of use, information quality and social influence on continuance intention; (3) perceived ease of use, information quality and social influence were found to play important roles in predicting the continuance intention; (4) system quality played an important role in affecting the perceived ease of use; and (5) unexpectedly, social motivations had no significant effect on attitude.     

Understanding information proactiveness and the content management system adoption in pre-implementation stage

The overall technology acceptance literature does not pay sufficient attention to the issue of the mandated use of systems as the traditional acceptance models (e.g. TAM) were originally built, tested, and validated by being applied to technologies that were mainly voluntary in nature, that is, the users had the choice of whether to use or not use the technology. Few have studied end users' proactive motivation to use information and attitude toward newly implemented technologies within organizational contexts, before end-users start using the technology or pre-implementation stage. This research proposes that information proactiveness has influences on the content management systems adoption beliefs such as perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. The proposed model was empirically tested using the data collected from content management systems end-users. As theorized, information proactiveness was found to be a significant determinant of system users' perceived ease of use but not perceived usefulness in pre-implementation stage. Furthermore, perceived behavioral control was found to be a strong determinant of systems users' attitude. The study findings provide important insights on enhancing system users' adoption behavior in pre-implementation stage.     

The role of perceived resources in online learning adoption

This study examines perceptions of adequate resources that can facilitate or inhibit students’ adoption of an online learning system, through an extension of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to include the perspectives of intra- and extra-organizational resources. The novel contribution of this study is the inclusion of internal and external-organizational factors in the aspect of perceived resources. The results of the study confirm the original TAM findings that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are positively associated with behavioral intention. In addition, the results also partially support that perceived resources have impacts on online learning adoption: Perceived ease of use, internal computing support, internal computing training, and external computing support have positive effects on perceived usefulness. Furthermore, internal computing support, internal computing training, external computing support, external computing training, and external equipment accessibility have positive effects on perceived ease of use. Recommendations for promoting adoption of the online learning system are subsequently discussed, along with suggestions for improving overall system design.     

Effects of interface style on user perceptions and behavioral intention to use computer systems

This study examines the influence of two interface styles (menu- and command-based) on the perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and behavioral intention of the user to use the system. We have treated the system interface style as an external factor in the technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine its direct and indirect effects on behavioral intention to accept and use a system. The results showed that the interface style had direct effects on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness which, in turn, demonstrated significant effects on behavioral intention to use the system. Further, the results showed that perceptions of the menu-based interface were more favorable than perceptions of the command-based interface. These results provide several theoretical and practical implications for designing an effective system.     

How Motion-Control Influences a VR-Supported Technology for Mental Rotation Learning: From the Perspectives of Playfulness,Gender Difference and Technology Acceptance Model

ABSTRACT

Spatial training has been shown to help student’s university retention rates and performance. The goal of this study is: (1) to explore users’ acceptance of a virtual-reality-supported technology for mental-rotation learning and (2) to examine the effects of interactivity and gender on acceptance. Little is known about whether college students nowadays perceive motion-control and virtual-reality technology as novel and interesting and how gender affects their acceptance of technology. Two learning programs were developed using motion-control and virtual-reality technologies. Learners could actively manipulate the learning object or they could only passively learn. User’s acceptance of the training program (rather than mental-rotation performance) was compared. Results showed higher levels of perceived playfulness, ease of use, usefulness, and use-intention scores were found in motion-control training, suggesting interactivity is still attractive. However, gender difference was also found. While perceived ease of use was a major contributor to training use-intention for both genders, influence of perceived playfulness on use-intention was found only in women.     

The Role of Organizational and Individual Characteristics in Technology Acceptance

The roles that users' individual and organizational characteristics play in technology acceptance were examined. Perceived work group characteristics was considered an organizational characteristic; attitude toward change and job stress were considered individual characteristics. User satisfaction with system characteristics was considered a consequence of technology acceptance. Data were collected from a sample of 236 Korean expatriates in information technology (IT) industries who were assigned to work in the United States. Perceived work group characteristics, attitude toward change, and job stress were related to one of the technology acceptance variables, perceived ease of use of the IT system. Ease of use was, in turn, related to perceived usefulness of the IT system, the other technology acceptance variable. Both perceived ease of use and usefulness were related to user satisfaction.     

Determinants of users’ intention to adopt wireless technology: An empirical study by integrating TTF with TAM

This paper reported the results of a survey study and provided evidences of empirically testing a model that integrates both technology acceptance model (TAM) and task-technology fit (TTF) model in understanding the determinants of users’ intention to use wireless technology in organizations. Questionnaires were distributed to organizations that bring mobile commerce into practice through the wireless handheld devices. The results indicated that both technology acceptance model and task-technology fit model are robust models by themselves. First, both perceived usefulness and ease of use significantly influence users’ behavior intention to utilize wireless technology. Perceived ease of use has significant effect on perceived usefulness. Second, characteristics of technology and task significantly predict the fit between these two constructs. Significant effect of characteristics of technology on perceived ease of use and usefulness were observed. Finally, significant relationships between TAM and TTF model were also observed. Task-technology fit is a significant direct predictor of technology adoption intention. Overall, users’ intention to adopt wireless technology in organizations was determined directly by fit between characteristics of task and technology as well as users’ perceived ease of use and usefulness.     

An examination of the factors contributing to microcomputer technology acceptance

This paper examines the factors that explain variations in microcomputer acceptance. Results of this study identify two main factors contributing to microcomputer acceptance: behavioral beliefs and normative beliefs. We found that individuals use microcomputers if they believe that (a) using the system will increase their performance and productivity, and (b) if they feel social pressure to use microcomputers, mainly pressure from individuals or groups with whom they are motivated to comply think they should use them. We also found that perceived usefulness and computer anxiety had strong direct effects on attitudes and that both computer anxiety and perceived usefulness mediated the effects of the external factors (computer skills and organizational support) on microcomputer usage. Subjective norms also had a direct effect on microcomputer usage and mediated the effect of normative beleifs on microcomputer usage. Finally, results also show that organizational usage (peer usage, management usage, and subordinate usage) and organizational support (management and information center support) had direct effects on normative beliefs. Implications for practitioners and researchers are offered on user acceptance of microcomputer technology. We also provided some design and implementation guidelines that foster computer technology acceptance.     

Applying the Technology Acceptance Model to Social Networking Sites (SNS): Impact of Subjective Norm and Social Capital on the Acceptance of SNS

With their heavy traffic and technological capabilities, social networking sites (SNS) introduced a new means of building and maintaining perceived social capital. This study aims to identify underlying factors and causal relationships that affect behavioral intention to use SNS. For this purpose, this research developed an extended technology acceptance model, incorporating subjective norm and perceived social capital for predicting SNS acceptance and usage. Exploratory correlation and path analyses were conducted to identify the relationships between five constructs: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm, perceived social capital, and intention to use. The results showed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use had robust effects on the user's intention to use SNS. The research findings also demonstrated that subjective norm and perceived social capital were significant predictors of both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use and therefore should be considered as potential variables for extending the technology acceptance model.     

Exploring the relationship between technology acceptance model and usability test

In the past, most studies used the technology acceptance model (TAM) to survey the subjective perception of users in using information technology. The usability test was also used to assess the ease of use of user interfaces. This study introduces a conceptual framework to explore the relationship between user’s beliefs of TAM and usability testing attributes. Usability testing was conducted on an eCampus learning system with a mobile device. TAM data was collected from the participants for analyzing a possible relationship. The findings of this study reveal that TAM results contradict the usability test results in certain areas. The focus of our proposed research model is supported from the causality between perceived ease of use and usability; however, the correlation between perceived usefulness and usability remains unclear.     

Acceptance of Assistive Technology by Special Education Teachers: A Structural Equation Model Approach

To investigate the acceptance of assistive technology (AT) by special education teachers, the present study developed and tested hypothesized relationships among key determinants of AT acceptance such as the facilitating condition, perceived ease of use, computer self-efficacy, result demonstrability, perceived usefulness, and behavioral intention. Results from analysis of data collected from a number of special education teachers in schools for the visually and/or auditory impaired confirmed the effects hypothesized in our conceptual model of AT acceptance. In particular, perceived usefulness was a dominant factor affecting AT usage. Facilitating condition was strongly related to perceived ease of use, whereas perceived ease of use had a significant effect on computer self-efficacy. This study also found the importance of result demonstrability factor, which had significant effects on both computer self-efficacy and perceived usefulness. This study expanded and enriched a traditional technology acceptance model by further investigating determinants associated with the acceptance of AT by special education teachers for the blind and/or the deaf. In addition, the results of the present study should provide some insights into the understanding of AT acceptance and the decisions of AT utilization, as well as its distribution and training.     

Delineating the effects of general and system-specific computer self-efficacy beliefs on IS acceptance

This paper discusses extensions to previous research on computer self-efficacy (CSE) and systems acceptance by examining the impact of multilevel CSE on IS acceptance. Based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), we examined the effects of general and system-specific CSE on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and behavioral intention to use a system. The results of a field experiment indicated that system-specific CSE represented a stronger predictor of perceived usefulness and behavioral intention than general CSE. In contrast, general CSE had a stronger effect on perceived ease of use. The research and practical implications of these findings are discussed.     

A confidence-based framework for business to consumer (B2C) mobile commerce adoption

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been considered to be fundamental in determining the acceptance of new technology in the past decades. The two beliefs, ease of use and usefulness, in the model may not, however, fully explain the consumers’ behavior in an emerging environment, such as mobile commerce (m-commerce). This paper aims to develop a framework for m-commerce adoption in consumer decision-making processes. In this paper TAM has been adopted and extended to analyze successful m-commerce adoption. The key elements of the proposed confidence-based framework for B2C m-commerce adoption include psychological and behavioral factors. Psychological factors include history-based confidence, institution-based confidence and personality-based confidence. Behavioral factors include perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the mobile application and technology.     

An empirical investigation on factors affecting the acceptance of CASE by systems developers

This paper presents the findings of an empirical study of factors affecting the acceptance of CASE by systems developers. Based on two research models (technology acceptance and personal computer utilization) recently published in IS literature, an integrated model which consists of six variables and incorporates key elements of both models was developed to examine determinants of CASE acceptance. The findings indicate that ease of use has the largest influence on CASE acceptance, followed by long-term consequences. Both transitional support and near-term usefulness do not have a significant direct effect on the acceptance but exhibit their indirect influence through ease of use and/or long-term consequences. The implementation gap was found to have a relatively small and negative effect on CASE acceptance through its influence on ease of use, near-term usefulness, and long-term consequences. Implications of the findings, from both a research and a managerial perspective are discussed in this paper.     

Knowledge-sharing motivations affecting R&D employees' acceptance of electronic knowledge repository

Why would R&D employees be willing to use an electronic knowledge repository (EKR) for knowledge-sharing? This study integrates a technology acceptance model (TAM) to investigate the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic motivations on R&D employees' acceptance of an EKR for knowledge-sharing. Empirical data were collected through a survey, which gathered data from 225 employees working in 10 organisations in Taiwan. The results indicated that (1) reputation and reciprocity were found to be two important antecedents to perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use; (2) altruism was also found to be an important antecedent to perceived ease of use; (3) reputation was the most influential factor of perceived usefulness, and another influential factor of perceived usefulness was reciprocity. Three knowledge-sharing motivations that significantly affect the perceived ease of use were listed as reciprocity, altruism, and reputation, according to the relative importance; (4) altruism plays an important role in explaining the EKR usage intentions for knowledge-sharing both directly and indirectly; and (5) the results were consistent with the propositions of TAM. This study contributes theoretically and empirically to the body of EKR usage research and also has practical implications.     

A structural equation modeling of the Internet acceptance in Korea

The objective of this study is to develop and test an integrated conceptual model of the Internet acceptance. Based on the two dominant theoretical paradigms – the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) – we propose a model of the Internet acceptance to investigate the relationship between external variables such as individual differences, task characteristics and management support, and individual acceptance of the Internet. The model is tested using data gathered from 374 end users of the Internet in Korean firms and data analysis is conducted using a structural equation modeling with LISREL. Significant relationships are found between experience and usefulness, between experience and ease of use, and between ease of use and usefulness. Organizational support is found to influence usefulness, ease of use and subjective norm. We also observe that actual usage is not influenced by subjective norm, but significantly influenced by experience, usefulness and ease of use. This result implies that individual acceptance of the Internet is significantly related to external factors such as experience, task characteristics and organizational characteristics rather than beliefs.     

A structural equation modeling of the Internet acceptance in Korea

The objective of this study is to develop and test an integrated conceptual model of the Internet acceptance. Based on the two dominant theoretical paradigms – the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) – we propose a model of the Internet acceptance to investigate the relationship between external variables such as individual differences, task characteristics and management support, and individual acceptance of the Internet. The model is tested using data gathered from 374 end users of the Internet in Korean firms and data analysis is conducted using a structural equation modeling with LISREL. Significant relationships are found between experience and usefulness, between experience and ease of use, and between ease of use and usefulness. Organizational support is found to influence usefulness, ease of use and subjective norm. We also observe that actual usage is not influenced by subjective norm, but significantly influenced by experience, usefulness and ease of use. This result implies that individual acceptance of the Internet is significantly related to external factors such as experience, task characteristics and organizational characteristics rather than beliefs.     

Remote patient monitoring acceptance trends among older adults residing in a frontier state

This pilot study aims to present a methodological approach for investigating remote patient monitoring system acceptance trends for older adults residing in a frontier state. For this purpose, extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables, which included subjective norm, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention were investigated using growth curve methods and modern resampling techniques. Results revealed our methodological and analytical approach shows promise for investigating technology acceptance over time on subjects where little literature exists and where recruiting adequate sample sizes for statistical power purposes may be challenging. Results of the data analysis showed there was a significant and reliable linear trend on subjective norm. Time did not predict perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, or behavioral intention, indicating the levels of these factors were high and stable over the course of the study. Older adults accepted remote patient monitoring, and family and friends may influence technology acceptance promoting behaviors. The longer participants used the technology, the more they perceived those important to them would want them to use it. Attention to social influence to optimize the implementation of in-home health monitoring among this population is warranted. Recommendations for future research are provided.