MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIFFUSION - A META-FORCE INTEGRATIVE CONTINGENCY DIFFUSION-MODEL

Prior research analyzes diffusion of information technology (IT) from disparate theoretical frameworks, often cross sectional in nature, and not utilizing interactionist perspectives. This paper proposes an original, holistic, two-tiered contingency IT diffusion model. The first tier identifies three meta-forces which drive information technology acquisition and diffusion (IT/AD) - organization culture, organization learning, and knowledge sharing. Both the characteristics of, as well as the interaction of, these three meta-forces determines the organization's creativity, synergy, and leveraging of IT/AD. These three meta-forces interact recursively, expressed via both rational and political organization processes. Unlike previous nominal IT/AD diffusion models, the IT/AD contingency model proposed herein is parsimonious, i.e:, the model explicates five rational processes and five political processes variable measurement categories. Thus, both management and research attention is directed to these ten variable categories. The second tier of the IT/AD model delineates secondary IT/AD forces (moderating variables) which further enhance or inhibit IT/AD. The second tier also considers the decision-making / diffusion process coupling. The complete IT/AD contingency model hypothesizes clusters of S-shaped diffusion curves. Future research directions, utilizing positivist, interpretive, and combined positivist/interpretive venues, as suggested by the model, are presented.