The Influence of Dispositional Factors and Situational Constraints on End User Performance

Abstract

Organizations introduce end user computing (EUC) technology to enhance productivity. Given the practical significance of end user performance, it is important to uncover factors with potential to influence end user performance (EUP). However, prior research has relied almost exclusively on dispositional variables to predict EUP. In this study, the effects of both dispositional and situational variables on EUP were examined. Of the variables examined, dispositional variables explained more variance in EUP than situational variables. Together, both sets of variables explained 40% of the variance in performance. Consistent with the predictions of several theoretical models of performance (e.g., Peters & O’Connor, 1980), dispositional variables were less predictive of performance when situational constraints were present than when they were absent. Implications of results for practitioners are discussed and avenues for future research on end user performance are suggested.