The Role of Appraisal in Adapting to Information Systems

Abstract

The benefits of new organizational information systems (IS) depend on the degree that users of the technology adapt by proactively changing themselves, their work routines, and even the technology itself in order to leverage its strategic capabilities. Scholars have recently proposed the Coping Model of User Adaptation (CMUA) as a useful theoretical lens for understanding individual adaptive responses to an IS; however, this nascent model has not yet received extensive empirical validation. Using survey data from a campus health center at a large public university, this study empirically examines and extends CMUA by exploring the relationship between IS appraisal and adaptive behaviors. Results show that user adaptation to IS depends on how it is appraised by users, with appraisal of the IS as a challenge being the strongest predictor of both problem-focused and emotion-focused adaptation. Implications for research and practice are discussed.