The reliance of organizations on the use of technology to enhance business performance has been rapidly growing since the advent of Information Technology. In current times, it is unthinkable that an organization of any significance can even attempt to survive without the use of technology. Understanding the factors that effect the implementation of new technologies therefore becomes critical for organizations in their quest to survive and prosper. This study looks at acceptance of new technology by field support technicians in a technology support services organisation. This topic is approached by way of using findings from prior studies in the context of field support technicians. This involves verifying external validity of a modified version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) developed in a prior study (involving healthcare professionals) for the acceptance of new technology in the case of field support technicians. The TAM explores the relationship amongst several variables (Compatibility; Social Influence; Facilitating Conditions; Perceived Usefulness; Perceived Ease of Use; and Attitude) and the influence of their interaction to Usage of a newly implemented system. The study was conducted within an Information and Communications Technology company that provides services to a large number of clients across South Africa. Data collection was approached by way of a census, with a questionnaire administered to field support technicians that were already using the new technology. Data received was then analysed and used in testing validity of the proposed model. Though the findings of the study were largely in support of prior research, a modified model was suggested for acceptance of new technology by field support technicians. The modified model takes into account the inclination of technicians towards experimenting with new technologies, a trait not observed with traditional system users studied in prior research. Since the study accounted for less than 70% variance in usage intention, it is recommended that further research be done to understand the “unexplained” variance, which is also common amongst most prior research. The findings of the study also suggest that continued research into the external validity of existing technology acceptance models for different contexts is justified. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

No description available.

The study was designed to identify the information sources utilized by school board members to secure factual data and background information essential to the making of decisions; to discover the perceived degree of satisfaction with information sources so identified; and to identify other sources of information with potential for providing a knowledge base to school board members. The study population included presidents of Indiana boards of school trustees who held membership in the Indiana School Boards Association during 1973.Specifically, the study was designed to:1. Identify sources of information utilized by school board members to gain needed data and/or facts essential to support decision-making in selected areas.2. Determine the degree of satisfaction with information sources utilized as perceived by school board members.3. Identify the various factors and/or conditions which tend to restrict or hamper more complete utilization of available information sources by board members.4. Secure suggestions as to how information services currently available through identified sources and agencies might be more adequately and completely utilized.5. Secure suggestions relative to possible additional information sources and agencies through which helpful and needed information and data should or might be made available.Data for the study were secured by means of a questionnaire instrument relative to six problem areas of common concern to Indiana school districts. Out of the291 questionnaires sent a total of 49 questionnaires were returned, initially. A follow-up letter was sent to all study population members regarding responses. A total of five questionnaires were returned from the follow-up. Thus, a total of 54 questionnaires were received. Review of research revealed no studies dealing directly with information sources identified as used by school board members. As a result, none of the instruments utilized in closely related studies were considered appropriate for use in the current study. An information gathering instrument was designed especially for the study utilizing the ten step criteria by Hillway for instrument construction. Validation of the questionnaire instrument was accomplished through field testing. The instrument was refined into final form following field testing procedures. The data were presented as raw responses, as percentages relative to the relationship between the mentioned frequency responses and the "N" number of total responses, and as weighted satisfaction means. Utilization o f weighted satisfaction means permitted the quality and value of each main identified information source to be determined regarding each of the six areas of concern.A summary of findings was organized concerning the six problem areas of common concern and the information obtained relative to the five specific aspects of the study.Study Findings1. Boards of education have need for in-depth information.2. Depending upon the type of problem faced by school board members, many governmental, public, industrial, and social agencies are utilized as information sources.3. Problems of specialized concern to board members may require specialized information sources.4. In terms of use and reported value of information some sources are consistently utilized regardless of the problem. Three such sources were the Superintendent, Indiana School Boards Association, and Professional Journals and Magazines.5. Though widely used, Mass Media was lacking in creditability, and information, when finally received, was too fragmented and too late to provide information of use to boards of education.6. Two general restricting factors for obtaining information were a lack of accurate information and difficulties involved in securing dependable information at the time needed.7. The need to improve upon fiscal responsibility relative to new programs or modifications of current programs exists at the state education level.8. State agencies need to improve channels of communication relative to supervising and coordinating programs for local school districts.9. An apparent need exists for improvement of relationships between Legislators and the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction.

No description available.

Thesis (MA Library and Information Studies)--University of South Australia, 1995

The focus of this thesis is information use. Although a key concept in information behaviour, information use has received little attention from information science researchers. Studies of other key concepts such as information need and informationseeking are dominant in information behaviour research. Information use is an area of interest to information professionals who rely on research outcomes to shape their practice. There are few empirical studies of how people actually use information that might guide and refine the development of information systems, products and services. The thesis begins to address this imbalance in information behaviour research by exploring the concept of information use through an empirical study. Fifteen senior managers from two organisations in the cultural industries sector participated in the study. Analysis of interviews revealed that the managers understood and experienced information use in five different ways: as information packaging; as information flow; as developing new knowledge and insights; as shaping judgements and decisions; and as influencing others. These five different ways of experiencing information use are related in a hierarchy that reflects three different views of information: as an object; as a construct; and as a transformative force. Embedded in the hierarchy are different relations between people and information in their work environments, different processes of information use and different criteria for determining the quality of information that is used. The thesis demonstrates that the concept of information use can be explored empirically using phenomenography as the research approach. This approach, which originated in the field of education, has been used infrequently in information behaviour research. It offers potential for the further exploration of not only information use but also other concepts germane to information behaviour. The thesis highlights the richness of peoples' experiences of information use and points to some directions that might be taken by practitioners in developing information systems, products and services to support people as they 'go about their business'.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 23, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 106-111). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-130).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: William Bozeman. Includes bibliographical references (p. 106-111).