Determinants of the Relative Advantage of a Structured SDM During the Adoption Stage of Implementation

This research investigates a new theoretical model for examining the relationships between user perceptions during innovation adoption. We have taken several innovation-related variables and constructed a framework for assessing the ability of a technology to improve worker performance. Prior research has not addressed the appropriate relationship between innovation adoption-related variables as applied to information systems development methodologies (SDM). This study attempts to use innovation-related variables created by Moore and Benbasat (Information Systems Research 2(3) (1991) 192–222) and Davis (MIS Quarterly 13(3) (1989) 319–340) to propose a framework useful by project managers in designing innovations that will successfully support the efforts of technology users. A framework is proposed, tested, and modified in the context of using an SDM to govern large systems development operation. Forty-seven users within a military software development organization were surveyed about their perceptions of a recently implemented structured SDM. A proposed model of innovation adoption perceptions was tested using correlation and partial least squares regression. Findings suggest a model for predicting the perceived relative advantage of SDMs in the adoption stage of their implementation which is useful in designing techniques in the IS development organizational function.     

An investigation of mobile learning readiness in higher education based on the theory of planned behavior

This study investigated the current state of college students' perceptions toward mobile learning in higher education. Mobile learning is a new form of learning utilizing the unique capabilities of mobile devices. Although mobile devices are ubiquitous on college campuses, student readiness for mobile learning has yet to be fully explored in the United States. The paper describes a conceptual model, based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), which explains how college students' beliefs influence their intention to adopt mobile devices in their coursework. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze self-report data from 177 college students. The findings showed that the TPB explained college students' acceptance of m-learning reasonably well. More specifically, attitude, subjective norm, and behavioral control positively influenced their intention to adopt mobile learning. The results provide valuable implications for ways to increase college students' acceptance of mobile learning.     

Social networking and digital gaming media convergence: Classification and its consequences for appropriation

Within the field of Information Systems, a good proportion of research is concerned with the work organisation and this has, to some extent, restricted the kind of application areas given consideration. Yet, it is clear that information and communication technology deployments beyond the work organisation are acquiring increased importance in our lives. With this in mind, we offer a field study of the appropriation of an online play space known as Habbo Hotel. Habbo Hotel, as a site of media convergence, incorporates social networking and digital gaming functionality. Our research highlights the ethical problems such a dual classification of technology may bring. We focus upon a particular set of activities undertaken within and facilitated by the space—scamming. Scammers dupe members with respect to their ‘Furni’, virtual objects that have online and offline economic value. Through our analysis we show that sometimes, online activities are bracketed off from those defined as offline and that this can be related to how the technology is classified by members—as a social networking site and/or a digital game. In turn, this may affect members’ beliefs about rights and wrongs. We conclude that given increasing media convergence, the way forward is to continue the project of educating people regarding the difficulties of determining rights and wrongs, and how rights and wrongs may be acted out with respect to new technologies of play online and offline.

融合采纳函数的动态信任度测模型

从网格的分布性、动态性和不确定性等特征出发,借鉴人类社会主观信任关系的概念,提出了一种新的信任评估模型与方法.该模型引入了采纳函数,区分了节点的反馈可信度和服务可信度,给出了反馈可信度与采纳强度的映射关系,动态调整了对具有不同推荐信任度的第三方实体所推荐信息的不同采信程度,提高了推荐信息的精确度.将采纳强度映射为等效的推荐信任的权重,给出了一个基于动态信任权重的综合信任度计算新方法.仿真实验结果表明,基于采纳函数的动态信任评估方法具有抑制恶意节点的策略性欺骗和不诚实推荐的能力,同时还体现出良好的动态适应性.     

Decisions on optimal adoption time for new technology

The rapid development of science and technology has brought a lot of convenience to the industry, and allowed companies to enhance their competitive advantages in the market. However, at some point in the growth stage, companies often reach a bottle neck of efficiency and effectiveness in production due to a saturated scale of economy, leading managers to face a decision of adopting more advanced technologies with consideration of market requirements and related costs. In this study, the adoption of a new technology is modeled as a decision problem in which related uncertain factors are considered to determine the optimal adoption time for the new technology. Bayesian decision analysis is used to integrate the subjective judgment of the decision maker and the objective information of the market. A practical case from a food and beverage company is illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Analysis of factors influencing acceptance of personal,academic and professional development e-portfolios.

This research investigates factors that influence students’ intentions to use personal, academic and professional development portfolios using a theoretical model based on the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB). Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) are important pedagogical tools and a substantial amount of literature supports their role in personal, academic and professional development. However, achieving students’ acceptance of e-portfolios is still a challenge for higher education institutions. The model suggests that Attitude towards Behaviour (AB), Subjective Norms (SN) and Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) and their decomposed belief structure can assist in predicting and explaining students’ Behavioural Intention (BI) to use e-portfolios. After using e-portfolios, data was collected from 204 participants from a UK university and analysed through the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique. The results demonstrated that the proposed personal, social and control factors in the model were well supported statistically and significantly influenced e-portfolio acceptance. The study provides for the first time a proven theoretical model which can be used to predict e-portfolio acceptance. The findings are valuable for system developers, educational developers and higher education institutions where e-portfolios are being used.     

Adoption of e-government services in Turkey

This research aims to investigate underlying factors that play role in citizens' decision to use e-government services in Turkey. UTAUT model which was enriched by introducing Trust of internet and Trust of government factors is used in the study. The model is evaluated through a survey conducted with Turkish citizens who are from different regions of the country. A total of 529 answers collected through purposive sampling and the responses were evaluated with the SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) technique. According to the results, Performance expectancy, Social influence, Facilitating conditions and Trust of Internet were found to have a positive effect on behavioral intention to use e-government services. Additionally, both Trust factors were found to have a positive influence on Performance expectancy of e-government services, a relation which, to our best knowledge, hasn't been tested before in e-government context. Effect of Effort expectancy and Trust of government were found insignificant on behavioral intention. We believe that the findings of this study will guide professionals and policy makers in improving and popularizing e-government services by revealing the citizen's priorities regarding e-government services in Turkey.     

Technology adoption and the challenges of inclusive participation in economic activities: Evidence from small scale oil palm fruit processors in southwestern Nigeria

The lack of technology adoption has been mentioned as a source of lack of inclusive participation of low income groups in economic activities leading to income disparity in developing countries. The study utilized an input-process-output framework to develop a set of indicators to inform the development of policies and practices to ensure the participation of low income groups in economic activities. The input element consists of technology adoption influencing factors such as socio-economic characteristics and innovating units and institutions that provide support for innovation activities. The process and output elements consist of the level of technology adoption in production processes and productivity measures respectively. Focusing on small-scale oil palm fruit processors in Nigeria, the study revealed that inadequate funding of the input processes lead to inadequate technology adoption in specific unit operations of palm oil production. Utilising selected physicochemical properties of palm oil as indicators of productivity, the samples of palm oil assessed were found to be unsuitable for industrial use and may limit the processors from participating in formal sectors of palm oil production. The study recommends policy levers that will enhance input factors through adequate funding to improve the technological base of the small-scale oil palm fruit processing.     

Researching instructional use and the technology acceptation of learning management systems by secondary school teachers

The aim of this large-scale study was to understand the technology acceptation of learning management systems (LMS) by secondary school teachers and to investigate the instructional use of LMS, distinguishing between informational use and communicational use. The predictive model further includes: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm, personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology, experience and internal ICT support at school level. Data were collected from 505 Flemish secondary school teachers. After performing satisfactory reliability and validity checks, the study was able to support all relationships among the 9 variables. Informational use was found to be a precursor for communicational use, perceived ease of use of the LMS is the strongest predictor in LMS-acceptation. Internal ICT support has a direct effect on the informational use of the LMS and on subjective norm. Implications stress that secondary school managers in education should take into account the importance of a teachers’ efforts and performance perceptions and the direct and indirect impact of internal ICT support on LMS adoption.