The Effect of Culture on User Acceptance of Information Technology

The UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology), a unified model of the acceptance of technology by workers in the United States, explains individual acceptance and usage decisions of a technology in organizations (R2 up to 70 percent); its usefulness, however, has not been tested in settings outside the U.S. Other models of technology use, such as the Technology Acceptance Model, have been predictive within the U.S., but have been found to be less predictive when tested in countries outside the U.S., such as Switzerland, Japan, Arabic countries, and Hong Kong, suggesting that culture may play a significant role in Information Technology (IT) usage and adoption. No clear relationships, however, have been established between cultural variables and IT adoption factors. The UTAUT model includes social influence as a factor that explains some of the variance in users\u27 acceptance of technology. One dimension of the social influence factor is culture. This study examines the effect of culture through the social influence variable of the UTAUT model on user acceptance of Prepayment Metering Systems - an Information Technology-based innovation in India. The findings indicate that social influence, along with performance expectancy and effort expectancy (R2 = 72 percent), is a significant factor influencing consumers\u27 intention to use the Prepayment Metering Systems. Social influence represents societal pressure on users to engage in a certain behavior. This social pressure for an individual to perform a behavior varies by culture. Our study confirms our proposition that the social influence based in culture will provide additional explanatory power concerning consumers\u27 intention to use a technology

The Impact of Anthropomorphic and Functional Chatbot Design Features in Enterprise Collaboration Systems on User Acceptance

Information technology is rapidly changing the way how people collaborate in enterprises. Chatbots integrated into enterprise collaboration systems can strengthen collaboration culture and help reduce work overload. In light of a growing usage of chatbots in enterprise collaboration systems, we examine the influence of anthropomorphic and functional chatbot design features on user acceptance. We conducted a survey with professionals familiar with interacting with chatbots in a work environment. The results show a significant effect of anthropomorphic design features on perceived usefulness, with a strength four times the size of the effect of functional chatbot features. We suggest that researchers and practitioners alike dedicate priorities to anthropomorphic design features with the same magnitude as common for functional design features in chatbot design and research

Acceptance of Information and Communication Technology for Vocational High School Management

The successful use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for school management is basically influenced by organizational and technological factors. Organizational factors are management’s ability to use ICTs to support school management, while technological factors relate to the ICT itself and the user behavior in utilizing ICT is used to support their performance. The acceptance of ICT is the behavior of users in utilizing ICT that is indicated by the perceived usefulness of ICT, perceived ease in using ICT, attitude toward behavior using ICT, and the actual use of ICT by users. In general, this study aims to determine the effect of school culture on various aspects of ICT acceptance for the management of Vocational Schools in the Jakarta Region. The method used in this study is a causal survey with a randomly selected sample of 245. Path analysis with the partial least square (PLS) approach was used to analyze the research data. The results showed that the school culture had a direct influence on the perceived usefulness of ICT, and perceived ease in using ICT with path coefficients of 0.282 and 0.169; perceived ease in using ICT directly affects the perceived usefulness of ICT and attitude toward behavior using ICT with path coefficients of 0.452 and 0.504; the perceived usefulness of ICT has a direct effect on attitude toward behavior using ICT with a path coefficient of 0.280; attitude toward behavior using ICT directly influences the actual use of ICT by users with path coefficient 0.587; and the actual use of ICT by users directly influences the effectiveness of school management with a path coefficient of 0.526. The conclusion in this study is that school culture has a positive and significant influence on the acceptance of ICT for school management.     Keywords: school culture, acceptance of ICT, school management, vocational high schoo

Examining A Technology Acceptance Model Of Intention To Use Internet By A Academics Within Indonesia Higher Learning Institution

A variety of information technology acceptance model had been proposed with different sets of determinants and most of them have been developed in the U.S. It is therefore questioned whether the models of technology acceptance that have been developed in the U.S. can be used in other countries, especially in Indonesia. It is also questioned whether there might be other determinants such as cultural dimension that also play important roles in this specific environment (Veiga et al., 2001; Bagchi et al.,2003). However, the role of cultural dimensions on internet acceptance research currently lacks a comprehensive conceptual framework for explaining the intention of internet usage especially in Indonesia. To fill this gap, this study extends the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Model (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et el., 2003) by adding a set of cultural constructs that are derived from Hofstede's national culture dimensions as the antecedents. The constructs of UTAUT used in this research were Attitude (ATT), Self Eficacy (SEF), Anxiety (ANX), Perceived ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Social Influence (SI) and Compatibility (COM), while Hofstede's dimensions used in this research were Individualism (IDV), Power Distance (PDI), User Avoidance (UAI) and Long Term Orientation (LTO). Questionnaire survey method was used to collect primary data from academics within Private Universities in Indonesia. The survey yielded 401 usable questionnaires. Statistical analysis methods and Structural Equation Modeling with SmartPLS version 2.0 were used to analyse data. The findings indicate that the Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Social Influence (SI) are the most significant determinant of intention to use internet, while ATT, SEF and ANX are not. It is indicate that individual context not influence the intention to use. PEOU and COM has no effect on the intention, it means that the difficulties and compatibility using the internet have no effect on the intention. Meanwhile Individualism (IDV) is a variable that most influence on this model because IDV affect the SEF, ANX, PEOU and PU, followed by Power Distance (PDI) affecting the SEF and SI. Then LTO effect on PU and COM. While User Avoidance (UAI) only affect the SEF, and UAI did not affect the PEOU as originally hypothesized. In general, it can be said that the cultural dimensions are quite important in the acceptance of internet. Findings should assist organizations to understand the influence of cultural dimensions on internet technology acceptance and can be used as consideration when implementing internet in a higher learning institution in Indonesia. Finally, suggestions for future research were also provided for practitioners and academicians

Successful Adoption of E-Monitoring for Budgeting Implementation in Context of Mandatory Environment and Tri Hita Karana Culture

This study examines the successful adoption of electronic monitoring for budget implementation (E-MBI) using model of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) that modified in context of mandatory environment and Tri Hita Karana cultural. This study aim is to examine and explain factors affecting the successful adoption of electronic government in Regional Office of Religion Ministry of Bali based on local culture of Tri Hita Karana. Data was collected by survey method using questionnaire. Samples were 60 personnel of E-MBI. Data were analyzed by using partial least squares. The research proves that performance expectancy, social and cultural and information quality can affect user satisfaction to E-MBI. Meanwhile, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and system quality cannot affect the user satisfaction to E-MBI. Public education or religious cannot affect the effect of exogenous variables on endogenous variables. In addition, the results reinforce UTAUT to construct models of social and cultural factors in context of Tri Hita Karana to replace social factors construct in UTAUT model. Keywords: UTAUT, e-government, mandatory setting, Tri Hita Karana cultura

Enhanced technology acceptance model to explain and predict learners' behavioural intentions in learning management systems

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyE-learning has become the new paradigm for modern teaching moreover, the technology allows to break the resurrection of time and place by enabling people to learn whenever and wherever they want. In information system research, learners' acceptance of e-learning can be predicted and explained using technology acceptance models. This research developed enhanced technology acceptance model to explain students' acceptance of learning management systems (LMSs) in Saudi Arabia. The research model aims to investigate the viability of TAM constructs in a nonwestern country. Moreover, due to the cultural impact of the Saudi Arabian culture towards genders, the research addresses the moderating effect of gender towards LMSs acceptance. The developed model variables identification focuses on two motivation aspects, extrinsic and intrinsic. The developed model consisted of ten variables in total, which can be categorised into three groups. First, the extrinsic variables consisting of information quality, functionality, accessibility, and user interface design. Second, the intrinsic variables are consisting of computer playfulness, enjoyment, and learning goal orientation. Third, the TAM variables consisting of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention. Moreover, to validate and examine the developed model, a questionnaire tool was developed for data collection. Furthermore, the data was collected from electronically from three universities over six weeks. The research findings supported the developed model. Additionally, the identified variables were good critical in predicting and explaining students' acceptance of LMSs. The research applied structural equation modelling for statistical analysis using IBM AMOS. The research results confirmed the applicability of the developed model to explain the Saudi students' acceptance of LMSs. The developed model explained high variance among the dependent variables outperforming the excising models. The research improved the explanatory power of the TAM model through the identified variables. Furthermore, the research results showed that the extrinsic variables were stronger predictors of students' perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention. In addition, the results showed that males and females perception towards the LMS was significantly different. The male students' acceptance towards LMSs was higher than females. Moreover, enjoyment was the stronger determinant of females' behavioural intention

The influence of national culture on the attitude towards mobile recommender systems

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.This study aimed to identify factors that influence user attitudes towards mobile recommender systems and to examine how these factors interact with cultural values to affect attitudes towards this technology. Based on the theory of reasoned action, belief factors for mobile recommender systems are identified in three dimensions: functional, contextual, and social. Hypotheses explaining different impacts of cultural values on the factors affecting attitudes were also proposed. The research model was tested based on data collected in China, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Findings indicate that functional and social factors have significant impacts on user attitudes towards mobile recommender systems. The relationships between belief factors and attitudes are moderated by two cultural values: collectivism and uncertainty avoidance. The theoretical and practical implications of applying theory of reasoned action and innovation diffusion theory to explain the adoption of new technologies in societies with different cultures are also discussed.National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean governmen

Culture in the design of mHealth UI:An effort to increase acceptance among culturally specific groups

Purpose: Designers of mobile applications have long understood the importance of users’ preferences in making the user experience easier, convenient and therefore valuable. The cultural aspects of groups of users are among the key features of users’ design preferences, because each group’s preferences depend on various features that are culturally compatible. The process of integrating culture into the design of a system has always been an important ingredient for effective and interactive human computer interface. This study aims to investigate the design of a mobile health (mHealth) application user interface (UI) based on Arabic culture. It was argued that integrating certain cultural values of specific groups of users into the design of UI would increase their acceptance of the technology. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 135 users responded to an online survey about their acceptance of a culturally designed mHealth. Findings: The findings showed that culturally based language, colours, layout and images had a significant relationship with users’ behavioural intention to use the culturally based mHealth UI. Research limitations/implications: First, the sample and the data collected of this study were restricted to Arab users and Arab culture; therefore, the results cannot be generalized to other cultures and users. Second, the adapted unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model was used in this study instead of the new version, which may expose new perceptions. Third, the cultural aspects of UI design in this study were limited to the images, colours, language and layout. Practical implications: It encourages UI designers to implement the relevant cultural aspects while developing mobile applications. Originality/value: Embedding Arab cultural aspects in designing UI for mobile applications to satisfy Arab users and enhance their acceptance toward using mobile applications, which will reflect positively on their lives.</p

Examining the moderating effect of individual-level cultural values on users’ acceptance of E-learning in developing countries: a structural equation modeling of an extended technology acceptance model

In this study, we examine the effects of individual-level culture on the adoption and acceptance of e-learning tools by students in Lebanon using a theoretical framework based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). To overcome possible limitations of using TAM in developing countries, we extend TAM to include subjective norms (SN) and quality of work life constructs as additional constructs and a number of cultural variables as moderators. The four cultural dimensions of masculinity/femininity (MF), individualism/collectivism, power distance and uncertainty avoidance were measured at the individual level to enable them to be integrated into the extended TAM as moderators and a research model was developed based on previous literature. To test the hypothesised model, data were collected from 569 undergraduate and postgraduate students using e-learning tools in Lebanon via questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using the structural equation modelling technique in conjunction with multi-group analysis. As hypothesised, the results of the study revealed perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), SN and quality of work life to be significant determinants of students’ behavioural intention (BI) towards e-learning. The empirical results also demonstrated that the relationship between SN and BI was particularly sensitive to differences in individual-cultural values, with significant moderating effects observed for all four of the cultural dimensions studied. Some moderating effects of culture were also found for both PU and PEOU, however, contrary to expectations the effect of quality of work life was not found to be moderated by MF as some previous authors have predicted. The implications of these results to both theory and practice are explored in the paper

Determinants of social and institutional beliefs about internet acceptance within developing country’s context: A structural evaluation of higher education systems in Pakistan

This study aims to extend a model of technology acceptance to suit in developing country’s context. The model attempts to identify relationship between social and institutional factors over behavioural intention and usage. Recently, ‘acceptance and adoption of information technology (IT) in multicultural setting’ is becoming topic of interest for IS researchers. In this line, numerous theories and models are proposed to contribute in examining factors of IT acceptance and reluctance. It is argued that the models in published literature are found culturally biased, which successfully present results in only American and European context, however, their validity became questionable when they were tested in south Asian countries context. Additionally, lack of research is observed to predict individual’s cognitive behaviour of acceptance, which are influenced by social factors (i.e. peer influence and superior influence, voluntariness, experience) and institutional factors (i.e. local institutional management influence and top-level governmental policies influence). This study used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) based on Partial Least Square (PLS) method to analyse the data. The results reveal that the proposed conceptual model achieves acceptable fit and the hypothesised paths are valid