| Advances in computing and information | | | | specific technology as useful, she/he will believe in |
| technology are changing the way people meet | | | | a positive use-performance relationship. Since |
| and communicate. People can meet, talk, and | | | | effort is a finite resource, a user is likely to |
| work together outside traditional meeting and | | | | accept an application when she/he perceives it as |
| office spaces. For instance, with the introduction | | | | easier to use than another .As a consequence, |
| of software designed to help people schedule | | | | educational technology with a high level of PU and |
| meetings and facilitate decision or learning | | | | PEOU is more likely to induce positive perceptions. |
| processes, is weakening geographical constraints | | | | The relation between PU and PEOU is that PU |
| and changing interpersonal communication | | | | mediates the effect of PEOU on attitude and |
| dynamics. Information technology is also | | | | intended use. In other words, while PU has direct |
| dramatically affecting the way people teach and | | | | impacts on attitude and use, PEOU influences |
| learn. | | | | attitude and use indirectly through PU. |
| As new information technologies infiltrate | | | | User acceptance is defined as "the demonstrable |
| workplaces, home, and classrooms, research on | | | | willingness within a user group to employ |
| user acceptance of new technologies has started | | | | information technology for the tasks it is designed |
| to receive much attention from professionals as | | | | to support" (Dillon & Morris). Although this |
| well as academic researchers. Developers and | | | | definition focuses on planned and intended uses of |
| software industries are beginning to realize that | | | | technology, studies report that individual |
| lack of user acceptance of technology can lead to | | | | perceptions of information technologies are likely |
| loss of money and resources. | | | | to be influenced by the objective characteristics |
| In studying user acceptance and use of | | | | of technology, as well as interaction with other |
| technology, the TAM is one of the most cited | | | | users. For example, the extent to which one |
| models. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) | | | | evaluates new technology as useful, she/he is |
| was developed by Davis to explain | | | | likely to use it. At the same time, her/his |
| computer-usage behavior. The theoretical basis of | | | | perception of the system is influenced by the |
| the model was Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of | | | | way people around her/him evaluate and use the |
| Reasoned Action (TRA). | | | | system. |
| The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is an | | | | Studies on information technology continuously |
| information systems (System consisting of the | | | | report that user attitudes are important factors |
| network of all communication channels used within | | | | affecting the success of the system. For the past |
| an organization) theory that models how users | | | | several decades, many definitions of attitude have |
| come to accept and use a technology, The model | | | | been proposed. However, all theories consider |
| suggests that when users are presented with a | | | | attitude to be a relationship between a person |
| new software package, a number of factors | | | | and an object (Woelfel, 1995). |
| influence their decision about how and when they | | | | In the context of information technologies, is an |
| will use it, notably: | | | | approach to the study of attitude - the |
| Perceived usefulness (PU) - This was defined by | | | | technology acceptance model (TAM). TAM |
| Fred Davis as "the degree to which a person | | | | suggests users formulate a positive attitude |
| believes that using a particular system would | | | | toward the technology when they perceive the |
| enhance his or her job performance". | | | | technology to be useful and easy to use (Davis, |
| Perceived ease-of-use (PEOU) Davis defined this | | | | 1989). |
| as "the degree to which a person believes that | | | | A review of scholarly research on IS acceptance |
| using a particular system would be free from | | | | and usage suggests that TAM has emerged as |
| effort" (Davis, 1989). | | | | one of the most influential models in this stream |
| The goal of TAM is "to provide an explanation of | | | | of research The TAM represents an important |
| the determinants of computer acceptance that is | | | | theoretical contribution toward understanding IS |
| general, capable of explaining user behavior across | | | | usage and IS acceptance behaviors. However, this |
| a broad range of end-user computing technologies | | | | model -- with its original emphasis on the design of |
| and user populations, while at the same time being | | | | system characteristics - does not account for |
| both parsimonious and theoretically justified". | | | | social influence in the adoption and utilization of |
| According to the TAM, if a user perceives a | | | | new information systems. |