A Diffusion-Based Investigation into the Use of Lotus Domino Discussion Databases

Abstract

Some information and communication technologies (ICT) that support groups have become tightly engrained in the fabric of organizational life, but others have not been as widely adopted (Orlikowski, 1993). This is true of both businesses and educational institutions. For example, many professors and students regularly interact through e-mail. In contrast, groupware systems are not as widely used. In this article, we present research that uses diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory (Rogers, 1995) as the lens through which to study factors that impact intentions to use a groupware application in a higher education setting. This research investigates the following research question: Are adopters’ perceptions of the characteristics of groupware technology related to their intentions to use the technology? Organizations are increasingly making use of ICT to enable distance learning for their employees and, in some cases, customers (Dick, Case, Ruhlman, Van Slyke, & Winston, 2006). Furthermore, numerous academic institutions are implementing and supporting collaborative technologies to support student learning. For instance, Cordon, Anaya, Gonzalez, and Pinzon (2007) report on implementation of a virtual learning center to support learning of 4,000 students in Spain. Leung and Li (2006) describe efforts to create an e-learning environment in Hong Kong. High student dropout rates and low student satisfaction with e-learning remain major drawbacks in such implementations. Despite the presence of online discussion boards, sometimes students feel that there is little interaction in Web-based learning (Chatterjea, 2004). Avoiding failure in distance learning efforts requires better understanding of e-learners and their perception of ICT-based learning technologies.