Perceived value impact as an antecedent of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude : a perspective on the influence of values on technology acceptance

Management information system scholars and practitioners have been puzzled by the difficulties in achieving technology acceptance. They have tended to believe that these difficulties are the results of a flawed understanding of the specific technology or a generalized attitude of technology avoidance. This research shows that perceptions of and attitudes toward acceptance of information technologies are related to the values of potential adopters. Sub-organizations in systems self-organize around their common values, and use those values to make sense of their environments. Therefore, mental models of information technologies are influenced by the values of those who interact with them. This study tested hypotheses that beliefs and attitudes toward technology are related to the perceptions of how that technology will impact the fulfillment of the adopters’ values. Also, the study tested whether or not the values changed across suborganizations. The study explored these questions in the context of three suborganizations within a children’s hospital considering the implementation of a computer-based patient record (CBPR) system. Questionnaires and interviews were used to explore the relationships of value importances and the CBPR’s perceived impact on the realization of the values with perceptions of usefulness, ease of use and attitude toward the CBPR. The relationships found suggest a strong influence of value-related perceptions on acceptance. Specific values related to technology acceptance were identified and contrasted among the suborganizations. Implications and suggestions for theory and practice based on the findings are provided.