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Dissertation
End-user computing: the adoption of an intellectual technology in corporate settings
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
1989
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010093
Abstract
One feature of the current information age is the use of computing and other information technologies in work settings. In particular, a new type of technology, called an intellectual technology, has emerged, requiring that the user of adopter take an active role in developing the functionality of the technology. The goals of the current research were to develop an empirically-grounded model of the adoption process for intellectual technologies, and to identify the variables which have the strongest effects on that process. To accomplish these goals, the adoption of end-user computing applications was studied in five intact departments from three different corporations. Data were collected through a series of five in-depth interviews with each study participant, direct observation of the department's activities, and examination of already-existing documents related to the department's computer use. Based on the computing applications in use in these five departments, a five-stage model of the adoption process was developed. The five stages are: Resource Acquisition, in which staff, hardware, software and training are acquired; Application Development, in which specific procedures for using a specific hardware/software combination are developed to perform a specific function; Adoption/Renewal, in which the application is adopted by a person other than the developer and/or additional resources are acquired; Routinization/Enhancement, in which the application becomes part of the department's standard operating procedure and/or is enhanced in some way; and External Adoption, in which the application is adopted by someone outside the developer's department. The results of this study also indicate that the manager's approach to computing, the availability of slack time, the accessibility of hardware/software, and computer expertise within the end-use department have strong effects on the adoption of end-user computing applications. In addition to the implications that these findings have for managers in end-user departments, this study has three implications for researchers: it has clarified the definition of intellectual technologies, proposed a new model of the adoption process that is relevant to intellectual technologies, and developed a method for coding events occurring in an ongoing process.
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Details
- Title
- End-user computing
- Creators
- Barbara M. Wildemuth
- Contributors
- Belver C. Griffith (Advisor) - Drexel University, Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xiv, 399 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Information Studies (1984-1995); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021888952204721