Felix B. Tan

Background: Telemedicine can expand healthcare access, yet average-user models may obscure differences in beliefs and perceptions underlying teleconsultation continuance. Objectives: This study integrates the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Technology Readiness (TR) to examine continuance intention and unobserved user heterogeneity in Chile. Methods: Study 1 used face-to-face survey data from teleconsultation users (n = 388), Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), and PATHMOX segmentation to identify groups. Study 2 evaluated these segments in an independent sample (n = 1536) using measurement invariance assessment, PLS multigroup analysis, and importance–performance map analysis (IPMA). Both studies used non-probability quota sampling and included only adults with prior medical teleconsultation experience from three metropolitan areas. Results: Three segments were identified: adults 61 years and older, users under 61 with high health consciousness, and users under 61 with low health consciousness. Performance expectancy was the strongest predictor of continuance intention. However, relationships differed across segments: facilitating conditions were significant only among older adults, with greater reliance on social influence. TR more strongly influenced effort expectancy and facilitating conditions among low-health-consciousness users under 61. Older adults showed the lowest performance in TR and facilitating conditions. Conclusions: Even though these findings cannot be generalised to rural populations or individuals who have never used teleconsultation, they show that, among experienced urban users of medical teleconsultation, aggregate models may conceal segment-specific mechanisms underlying continuance intention. This supports the development of tailored strategies, such as providing technical support for older adults and emphasising benefits in communications targeting younger users with lower health consciousness.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), often comprising nearly 90% of businesses in many countries, are often regarded as the backbone of a country’s economy (Gunasekaran et al., 2011). The success o...

To-date, there appears to be a dearth of information systems (IS) project management mentoring research relating to mentoring practices across the IS project management process. This study contributes to our understanding of the nature of mentoring practices in IS projects. Practicing IS project managers in multinational companies were asked about their mentoring experiences. Findings were based on data collected via a web-based descriptive survey. Four key observations were noted. Mentoring practice adoption was perceived as positive. Practicing IS project managers were cognizant of the benefits that can accrue from mentoring adoption. The drive for project success was a key motivation. Adoption was more expedient and forthcoming in an informal relationship situation. Overall, mentoring was perceived to enhance IS project management practice. The paper concludes by providing some directions for future research.

Information systems (IS) should be infused into individuals’ work activities for organizations to extract value from these systems. Studies have identified various factors that impact IS infusion, but few have examined the importance of individuals’ identities and the role of contextual factors. Drawing on identity and status characteristics theories, this study conceptualizes individuals’ material identity as IT identity, and role identity as IS infusion role identity and examines their relationships and effects on IS infusion as well as the role status characteristics play in shaping these relationships. The models were evaluated using survey data collected from enterprise systems users. Findings suggest that individuals’ IT identity shape IS infusion role identity, and together, these identities influence their IS infusion. Additionally, work-related and personal characteristics strengthen the relationships between identities and IS infusion. This study highlights the role of individual’s IT and role identities and status characteristics in fostering IS infusion.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the determinant factors of perceived online community usefulness from a motivational point of view. The researchers have combined the use of the expectancy value model and the information system continuous-use model to predict continuous knowledge-sharing behaviour between online community members. This research provides an additional view of current literature focusing on technology-related factors. Design/methodology/approach: This research has adopted a quantitative research method, with data being collected through a Web survey technique. The members of online business communities were invited to participate in the survey. A total of 220 respondents participated in the online survey. These data were then analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings: The research findings revealed that motivation-related factors have a moderate ability to predict members’ perception of online community usefulness. The research findings have shown that attainment and utility values are two significant motivational factors, which can positively influence perceived online community usefulness. By promoting these values, continuous knowledge-sharing intentions can be encouraged through perceived online community usefulness. Research limitations/implications: Having members from communities other than online business communities might deliver different results, given that they have different needs and values. Also, this study only received responses from active contributors within selected online business communities. The responses from non-active contributors were not included in this study. Practical implications: This study provides practical suggestions on how the administrators and designers of an online community can promote positive values within their community platform, using motivation-related mechanisms. Originality/value: The existing literature that examines the determinants of perceived online community usefulness have mainly directed attention towards technology-related factors. This study fills the gap by examining the determinant factors of this construct from a motivation perspective.

Household electricity wastage poses a sustainability issue. Ergonomic interventions that prevent wastage through technological innovations are expensive and complex, making consumers unwilling to adopt them. The study aimed to investigate the motivations and impediments in avoiding electricity wastage. Thirteen Repertory Grid interviews were conducted on household electricity users relating to the behaviour of those living with them. The key motivational themes found were altruistic and egoistic reasons while the impediments were perceived behavioural control, hedonism and self-efficacy. Based on the research findings, a behavioural modification framework was developed to encourage consumers to adopt a higher level of responsible electricity practice through the following suggested interventions – (1) reframing sustainability from ‘future-for-others’ to ‘present-for-us’, (2) clarifying responsible consumption and (3) performance feedback. The research identified the key motivations and impediments of being a responsible household electricity user and provided a framework to encourage a higher responsibility level. Practitioner Summary: Household electricity wastage poses sustainability issue: excess CO₂ & high costs. We developed a mindset changing behavioural modification framework. We investigated HFE issues: motivations & impediments of avoiding the wastage, i.e. altruistic, egoistic, behavioural control, hedonism & self-efficacy. The framework provides governments insights into strategies to address the wastage.

In order to understand the role of user-generated content (UGC) in travel planning, this study integrates Psychological Empowerment with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), to develop a model of UGC-enabled empowerment and its impact on intention to use UGC when making travel plans. Survey data from 268 backpacker tourists revealed that perceived empowerment and perceived usefulness are significant drivers of attitude and intention to use UGC for travel planning. The findings provide the travel industry with a better understanding of how travelers’ perceptions of and use of UGC is empowering them to take greater control of the travel planning process.

Purpose: Recent innovations in payment instruments have fundamentally changed the ways we pay. These innovations, such as mobile/SMS payments and online banking, contain features that are likely to influence how people choose to pay. The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors that impact payers’ choice of payment instruments. Design/methodology/approach: Through in-depth interviews using the repertory grid technique, the authors explored 15 payers’ perceptions of six payment instruments, including coins, banknotes, debit cards, credit cards, mobile payments, and online banking. The approach draws heavily on organizational systematics to better understand payers’ choice of payment instruments. Findings: A four-category taxonomy of payments was developed. The authors refer to the taxonomy as the 4Ps: the purchase, the payer, the payment instrument, and the physical technology. The taxonomy comprises 16 payment characteristics consisting 76 payment features that influence payers’ instrument choice. One characteristic not known in prior research was identified – that is, “cancellation” – a characteristic more frequently associated with digital payment instruments than with cash or checks. Research limitations/implications: The findings suggest that payers view payment instruments in a much broader sense, including context, control, or cultural beliefs. Consequently, the authors suggest that researchers try to understand the essence of an innovation before assuming any economic rationalism in human or organizational behavior. The authors also urge researchers to understand the underlying meaning behind constructs of interest; as this study has shown that concepts like context and convenience have many different interpretations. Practical implications: According to McKinsey (2014) there are over 12,000 startups in the payment arena. For them, the taxonomy can function as a template for the design of payment instruments, as well as understanding the various factors that influence payer choice of payment instruments. Originality/value: The main contribution of this paper is the 4Ps taxonomy of payments. The taxonomy builds on and extends the work by Hirschman (1982). Since this work, and despite recent trends in payments, there has not been a comprehensive investigation that takes into account more recent innovations in payment instruments.

This study empirically examines the role of consumer trust and its antecedents in determining consumers' intention to adopt mobile payment. This research proposes that consumers' willingness to adopt mobile payment depends on their assessment of the trustworthiness of mobile service provider and vendor, their assessment of the functional reliability of mobile payment systems as well as their general disposition to trust and their cultural background, in particular, uncertainty avoidance. Data were gathered from 302 participants in Auckland, New Zealand. Results show that all five sets of trust antecedents influence the development of trust and trust is an important predictor of intention to adopt mobile payment. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.