Theoretical Models in IS Research and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

In this chapter, attempts are made to describe the theories associated with information technology and to provide an overview of the theories of and research on IT, including the technology acceptance model, the theory of innovation diffusion, the theory of task-technology fit model, the theory of planned behavior, and the theory of reasoned action. Furthermore, empirical research was conducted utilizing the widely accepted technology acceptance model (TAM) developed by Davis et al. (1989) to predict system usage. In this study, attempts were made to see if the earlier results of TAM are still valid after the recent advances in systems and technology affecting systems usage. Data were collected from a company in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. From the 250 employees who received the questionnaire via e-mail, 118 returned usable responses. The results indicated that management support and system quality does not affect usage, and TAM was supported substantially well.