The Adoption of Innovation by Smaller Local Governments: The Case of Computer Technology

Abstract

Most research on the adoption of computer technology centers on municipalities with populations exceeding 50,000. This article explores the degree to which findings from these large local governments apply to the adoption of computers in smaller municipalities. Based on a panel study of local governments at two points in time, the analysis provides support for hypothesized relationships derived from studies of larger cities linking environmental and organizational factors to computer technology adoption. Adopting innovation has inspired voluminous research aimed at explaining why one organization is more likely than another to adopt an innovation.