A Qualitative Study on the Adoption of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Practice

Abstract

The consumerization of information and communication technology (ICT) is a practically important research question. Throughout this paper, the author investigates the reasons that lead to this new and important practice. He analyzes the evolution and current state of ICT adoption research, identifying adoption patterns and determining factors, and hereby offers an integrative theoretical framework based on this body of research that illuminates the main pathways to adoption behavior. Results of this analysis allow one to realize a new phenomenon, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), which has become essential for organizations. A qualitative study is conducted to explain organizations' adoption of BYOD. A constant comparative method is used to analyze data obtained by interviewing the senior level managers of 14 organizations. Findings show that security, privacy, perceived financial cost, and compatibility have a major effect on the adoption.