The formation of technology mental models: the case of voluntary use of technology in organizational setting

• The use of information systems in organisationspresents one of the early signs of success. Hundreds of studieshave generated a wealth of knowledge on systems use across abroad range of technologies and theoretical approaches.However, new types of technologies and organisations continueto pose challenges to systems use. The case of opensystems that are offered to users on a voluntary basis presentsone of those challenges for two reasons: 1) the systems areopen in the sense that they could be configured in many waysdepending on users finding use cases and possible applications;2) the system use is voluntary and hence there is noorganisational push. They bring users’ choice and active findingof use cases to the centre of their success. This studyquestions why and how users choose to engage (or not toengage) with open technology on a voluntary basis and howand why its use options and potential unfold? It examines alongitudinal case study (1994–2012) on the voluntary use oftelemedicine. The findings reveal that users’ perception ofopen technology in a voluntary setting is formed through acontinuous interplay between users’ technology mentalmodels, professional identity, institutional traditions and arrangementsand work practices. If perceived to be in contradictionwith professional identity, institutional traditions andarrangements or work practices, users’ technology mentalmodels are fixated on the misfit and the misfit is therebyreinforced. Hence, users do not try to find use cases or thinkof possible applications. However, institutional entrepreneurscould break this self-fulfilling prophecy by influencing boththe technology mental models of users and the institutionalarrangements.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Systemvetenskap, informationssystem och informatik med samhällsvetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Information Systems, Social aspects (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

IS-success . IS-use . Open technology . Mental models . Institutional setting . Voluntary use . Telemedicine

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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