A Cultural Perspective on Technology Acceptance

This preliminary study focused on the cultural dimension of masculinity/femininity. Unlike many cultural studies that have utilized previously published country-level scores for dimensions of culture, this study surveyed individuals from thirty-four different countries to determine their score on the masculinity/femininity continuum. These results were part of a research model containing culture, gender, and intention to use computers. Three 2X2 between-subjects factorial ANOVAs were conducted. We found statistically significant main effects for the masculinity/femininity, and national origin. The results indicate that a user’s masculinity/femininity score, and national origin have an impact on his or her intention to adopt a technology

Economic Perspective on Cloud Computing: Three Essays

Improvements in Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and standardization of interoperability standards among heterogeneous Information System (IS) applications have brought a paradigm shift in the way an IS application could be used and delivered. Not only an IS application can be built using standardized component but also parts of it can be hosted by different organizations in different locations provided it can be accessed using the Internet. This dissertation is an attempt to uncover unique aspects of this phenomenon known as Software as a Service (SaaS). The first essay examines design decision making by SaaS providers by analyzing effects of two non-functional attributes of an IS Application - modularity and architectural performance. We model the relationship of the two attributes with factors such as demand, price, and user\u27s preference. The model includes marginal cost and maintenance cost to recognize the service aspect of SaaS. Our results show the optimal values of various decision variables while taking into account user\u27s sensitivity to modularity, architectural performance and price. The service component in cloud computing necessitates that the service providers plan for requisite delivery capacity. The second essay addresses optimal infrastructure capacity planning while taking into account the opportunity cost of having low capacity and cost of unused capacity in the case of high capacity. We develop a model which provides insight to a SaaS provider on optimal capacity planning of IT infrastructure when faced with a variable demand and performance expectations. The third essay focuses on financial risks faced by SaaS providers in the context of provider\u27s risk tolerance. We analyze the financial risk of provider\u27s decision making on pricing, capacity and other factors that may lead to financial risk as they are based on incomplete information. We built a model using Mean Variance Analysis theory for investigating the effect of provider\u27s risk tolerance on infrastructure capacity planning while taking into account modularity in software architecture and operational performance. This dissertation extends our understanding of significant issues facing a SaaS provider. The models presented here can form the basis for an extensive exploration of the phenomenon of SaaS specifically and Cloud Computing in general

The Influence of Values on the Adoption of Educational Technology

This thesis investigated the influence of values, culture and context on technology adoption behaviour. This thesis aimed to theoretically develop and validate the Values-Enhanced Technology Adoption (VETA) model, integrating Schwartz’s Theory of Human Values with the Unified Theory of the Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). The VETA model was validated through survey data in four research organisations based in East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), The Gambia and the United Kingdom. Contextual differences in adoption factors were explored through interviews with e-learners. Workers were surveyed during their participation in a professional e-learning course and interviewed six weeks after their e-learning experience. Survey analysis was completed using Partial-Least-Squares Structural-Equation-Modelling (PLS-SEM); interview data was analysed through computer aided thematic analysis. The VETA model was partially confirmed in the context with performance expectancy, price value, and habit predicting learner intention to use e-learning. Values interacted with the VETA model as predictors of adoption factors. The value of achievement was most important in predicting intention to use e-learning. Learners prioritising achievement as an important aspect of their worldview perceived e-learning to be important in their social context and worthwhile in terms of cost and benefit. The type and source of social influence differed in the African contexts from the UK: peer, champion, and manager influence were informational for African learners. The lack of facilitating conditions in the African environment was a perceived barrier to e-learning use for African learners that could be overcome with special endeavours which were not needed in the UK environment. This thesis demonstrated the integration of values and technology adoption literature in the development and validation of the VETA model, and expanded the constructs of social influence, price value, performance expectancy and facilitating conditions in sub-Saharan Africa and the UK. Despite contextual differences, the VETA model applied consistently across the East African, West African and UK contexts