Using electronic media for information sharing activities: a replication and extension (original) (raw)

2000, International Conference on Information Systems

This article reports a replication and extension of a study that explored individual perceptions of factors that underlie the use of electronic media (electronic mail, worldwide web , list serves, and other collaborative systems). The original study was conducted in a single Australian university. The study was replicated in a Canadian university. The replication allowed testing of the enlarged research model that involves organizational culture variables as well as attitudes toward information policies. Overall, the expanded research model includes culture variables, task and technology related variables, as well as individual attitudes and beliefs. We found that task and technology related variables explained more of the use of electronic media for sharing than culture related variables or the individual attitudes and beliefs. Specifically, task interdependence, perceived information usefulness and the user's computer comfort were most strongly associated with the person's use of electronic media. Two dimensions, employee orientation and need for achievement, of organizational culture had a significant influence on the use of electronic media for information sharing activities although less strongly than the task and technology related variables. Of the individual attitudes and beliefs, attitudes about information policies had a significant influence on the use of electronic media for information sharing activities. Besides the value of replication of a research model in another culture, the study contributed to the information systems literature by developing initial scales for two new constructs: attitudes about information policies and information culture. ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE-DEMOCRATICNESS-Source: Hofstede et al. (1990) "Management authority should be questioned" "I prefer a consultative manager" "It is undesirable that authority be questioned" (reverse coded) Staples and Jarvenpaa Item Wording 132 OPEN INFORMATION CULTURE-Source: Scholz (1990) and Davenport (1995) The instructions given to respondents were: "How would you describe the attitudes and behavior relative to information in general (i.e., all types) in your department? (circle one number in each line)" A scale, ranging from 1 to 7, was positioned between the two anchor labels, with 4 being labeled "neutral" so respondents indicated, by circling one number, where they felt their department was on the scale. Closed versus open information behavior Rumor-and intuition-based versus factually-oriented Suspicious versus confident ORGANIC INFORMATION CULTURE-Source: Scholz (1990) and Davenport (1995) Internally focused vs. externally focused Controlling vs. empowering Centralized vs. decentralized Hierarchic vs. non