The applicability of existing acceptance models for enterprise organizational technology acceptance of wearables

Abstract

Technology adoption models have historically focused on individual decision–making. However, many times technology is chosen by an organization, and must be adopted by its employees. Wearable technology has the potential to improve a variety of safety and performance outcomes in manufacturing settings, but acceptance by both organizations and individuals is varied. Fourteen focus group interviews were conducted to explore the topic of wearable technology acceptance in manufacturing. The most prevalent acceptance factor from existing models was attitude, with comments generally demonstrated an overall sense of uncertainty and hesitation about how the devices and subsequent data would be used. Several factors, such as comfort, safety, convenience, cost, and culture, were discovered in the focus group results but are not represented in current acceptance models. There is a need to modify existing models or develop new models to better understand wearable technology acceptance. Relevance to industryIntroducing new technology into an industry setting presents many challenges. Understanding existing barriers can help practitioners explore ways to improve implementation and adoption within a manufacturing organization.