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Cited by 1,669Technology Adoption and User BehaviourInformation Systems Theories and ImplementationInnovation Diffusion and Forecasting

The Role of Innovation Characteristics and Perceived Voluntariness in the Acceptance of Information Technologies

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Agarwal, Ritu, Prasad, Jayesh·1997·Decision Sciences
DOI 10.1111/j.1540-5915.1997.tb01322.x
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Abstract

The often paradoxical relationship between investment in information technology and gains in productivity has recently been attributed to a lack of user acceptance of information technology innovations. Diverse streams of research have attempted to explain and predict user acceptance of new information technologies. A common theme underlying these various research streams is the inclusion of the perceived characteristics of an innovation as key independent variables. Furthermore, prior research has utilized different outcomes to represent user acceptance behavior. In this paper we focus on individual's perceptions about the characteristics of the target technology as explanatory and predictive variables for acceptance behavior, and present an empirical study examining the effects of these perceptions on two frequently used outcomes in the context of the innovation represented by the World Wide Web. The two outcomes examined are initial use of an innovation and intentions to continue such use in the future, that is, to routinize technology use. Two research questions motivated and guided the study. First, are the perceptions that predict initial use the same as those that predict future use intentions? Our results confirm, as hypothesized by prior research, that innovation characteristics do explain acceptance behavior. The results further reveal that the specific characteristics that are relevant for each acceptance outcome are different. The second research question asks if perceived voluntariness plays a role in technology acceptance. Results show that external pressure has an impact on adopters' acceptance behavior. Theoretical and practical implications that follow are presented.

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  • Over the life course of an IT, the relationships in TAM may change; for example, ease of use may be critical at first and less important as time goes by.

    “Studies of TAM have shown that over the life course of an IT, the relationships in the model may change; for example, ease of use may be critical at first and less important as time goes by [51, 100, 128].”

    From The Technology Acceptance Model: Its past and its future in health care (2010) · cites this paper as [128]

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Authors
Agarwal, R., & Prasad, J.
Affiliations
  • Florida State University (US)
  • University of Dayton (US)
Corresponding author
  • Agarwal, Ritu
  • Prasad, Jayesh
ORCID
Agarwal, Ritu
Venue
Decision Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1997-07
Volume
28
Issue
3
Pages
557-582
ISSN
  • 0011-7315 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-5915
DOI
10.1111/j.1540-5915.1997.tb01322.x
OpenAlex
W1998581510
Cited by
1,669
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 67 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 88 · 2017: 53 · 2016: 65 · 2015: 96 · 2014: 101 · 2013: 80 · 2012: 102
FWCI
33.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 3628 d)
Locations
Decision Sciences (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Information Systems Theories and Implementation
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Innovation Diffusion and Forecasting
Keywords
technology acceptance, innovation characteristics, continuance intention, information technology adoption

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