PERCEIVED COMPATIBILITY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS AMONG SECONDARY ADOPTERS - TOWARD A REASSESSMENT

The perceived compatibility construct, as drawn from theory on innovation adoption and diffusion, serves poorly the study of innovation among information technology users within organizations. Drawing on literature addressing innovation-organization fit and the implementation of new technologies, the current study modifies and extends the conceptualization of perceived compatibility. The enhanced construct, which embraces a variety of technical, personal, and organizational dimensions, is explored in a pilot study with prospective users of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) technology. The empirical results reveal a multidimensional structure for the construct, though somewhat at odds with the structure postulated. The findings indicate that there is potential for continued exploration in this area, and suggest that efforts to reconceptualize how organizationally-based users perceive information technology innovations be broadened.