Consumers' Acceptance and Use of Information and Communications Technology: A UTAUT and Flow Based Theoretical Model

Saleh Alwahaishi,Václav Snásel

doi:10.4067/s0718-27242013000200005

Abstract

The world has changed a lot in the past years. The rapid advances in technology and the changing of the communication channels have changed the way people work and, for many, where do they work from. The Internet and mobile technology, the two most dynamic technological forces in modern information and communications technology (ICT) are converging into one ubiquitous mobile Internet service, which will change our way of both doing business and dealing with our daily routine activities. As the use of ICT expands globally, there is need for further research into cultural aspects and implications of ICT. The acceptance of Information Technology (IT) has become a fundamental part of the research plan for most organizations (Igbaria 1993). In IT research, numerous theories are used to understand users’ adoption of new technologies. Various models were developed including the Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior, and recently, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Each of these models has sought to identify the factors which influence a citizen’s intention or actual use of information technology. Drawing on the UTAUT model and Flow Theory, this research composes a new hybrid theoretical framework to identify the factors affecting the acceptance and use of Mobile Internet -as an ICT application- in a consumer context. The proposed model incorporates eight constructs: Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, Social Influences, Perceived Value, Perceived Playfulness, Attention Focus, and Behavioral intention. Data collected online from 238 respondents in Saudi Arabia were tested against the research model, using the structural equation modeling approach. The proposed model was mostly supported by the empirical data. The findings of this study provide several crucial implications for ICT and, in particular, mobile Internet service practitioners and researchers

Highlights

Information and communications technology or information and communication technology (ICT), is often used as an extended synonym for Information Technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications, computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information (Wikipedia, 2012)
This research presented clearly shows the need for a thorough understanding of user attitudes and preferences towards ICT acceptance.As more technological innovations are introduced in rapid succession and an increased number of those innovations are failing, profound insights in the determinants towards adoption and use become more important
The research problem domain was discussed and the researcher’s assumptions of the influential effects on mobile Internet acceptance and use are being explored.the research questions that laid the foundations of this research study were explained.The factors affect end users adoption of mobile Internet, as a mean of ICT, have been investigated, analyzed and tested.The key results are summarized as below; First, in this study, it has been proposed that the factors affecting end users adoption of ICT were: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived value, perceived playfulness, attention focus, and behavioral intention.The survey was conducted with all the age groups who have experienced mobile internet

Summary

Introduction

Information and communications technology or information and communication technology (ICT), is often used as an extended synonym for Information Technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications, computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information (Wikipedia, 2012). Over the last few decades there has been an increase in ICT research, which has changed and shaped the way societies and organizations operate and produce their goods and services. The rapid advances in technology and the changing of the communication channels have changed the way people work and, for many, where do they work from. It is the generation of new technologies, and its diffusion throughout the economy which affects productivity growth at the macro-level. Pilat and Lee (2001), showed that to capture the benefits of ICT it is not necessary to dispose of an ICT producing sector.Timely diffusion of new technology or, from the firm’s point of view, its adoption is a key element to securing economic growth It is the generation of new technologies, and its diffusion throughout the economy which affects productivity growth at the macro-level. Pilat and Lee (2001), showed that to capture the benefits of ICT it is not necessary to dispose of an ICT producing sector.Timely diffusion of new technology or, from the firm’s point of view, its adoption is a key element to securing economic growth

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Conclusion