Technology Acceptance in Mechatronics

Continuous developments in the fields of knowledge and technology compel rapidly changing business environments, thus, organisations are forced to change their way of doing business and adopt new technology at an increasingly faster rate. This results in a high rate of ongoing technological change in the working environment, with the effect of an increased interest in understanding user technology acceptance. Despite a large number of theories, the success of a technology amongst its users remains hard to understand and ranges from enthusiastic endorsement, to intermediate variations, all the way to open rejection.

Organizational investments in computer aided information and communication technologies have expanded dramatically in most industries of the western business world over the last 50 years. The most central reasons for these investments in technological change are improved productivity; enhanced efficiency or quality; reduction of problems, mistakes, or danger; enlarged span of information, knowledge or control; and enhanced communication or prestige (Crespi et al. 2006; German Statistisches Bundesamt 2007).

This chapter introduces various models used today in a practical or in an academic setting in order to predict the use and spread of technology. They are analysed and compared, in order to illustrate the research gap that this dissertation intends to fill.

This chapter outlines the research design and methodology of this study. It explains why the research shows an emerging methodology, it describes the process that led to the selection of this methodology, and outlines the research design.

Individuals behave in many different ways when confronted with technological change. Some endorse the new technology and actively pursue it, others are more or less happy to go along with the change and apply the new technology effectively, yet others resist it. This behaviour may be conscious and a function of balanced reasoning or it may be a subconscious process.

This chapter offers an historical and contemporary analysis of different social realities. These realities are important, because they offer the foundation for social structures, and it is this social structure, within which a society places its categories for social identities. This means identities are linked within the social system (Smith-Lovin 2003, p.174), which means that individuals are not free to define their social categories. As all social choices are socially constrained (Stryker and Stratham 1985; cited in Thoits 2003, p.182). Furthermore, social structures and meaning systems which include the self are in an reciprocal relationship of influence. This chapter focuses on the investigation of these often hidden constraints. Uncovering them will further increase an understanding for the choice of available identities and for the identity content that enables or constrains enactment. Once the social heritage of the spectrum of choice and limitation is understood, the investigation will continue with the role contemporary information technology has on society and on the individual. Opportunities and threats are investigated, and the possible perceptions within the social context are discussed. Special recognition is given to emerging network societies, a technology enabled new form of social ties, which also might account for individuals' perceptions in a situation of technological change.

Further understanding the impact of organisations and groups within organisations on technology acceptance behaviour is important. Organisation specific structures might be a source for organisation related social identities, relevant for the investigation of technology acceptance behaviour. This chapter investigates typical social and personal identities within the working environment, and it introduces the mechatronics industry sector as a newly emerging industry.

The following section summarises some of the most influential theoretical findings and experiences as they have emerged from the theoretical frame analysis. In the end, it reflects the augmented consciousness now available to the research problem. Figure 21 illustrates roughly the spectrum of the frame analysis.

This chapter presents data that was developed through the various data development methods and that emerged as relevant through the constant comparative method of grounded theory. The data development process, the coding and theoretical sampling that emerged through constant comparison are illustrated, and the visual interpretation of the data that is used throughout this analysis and discussion is explained. Thereafter, the emergent data are presented. Their significance will be discussed in the consecutive chapter of data discussion.

This chapter discuses research results and their effect on existing knowledge. It lists the deficiencies that emerged during the study and the emerging implications for improvement in theory and practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of social and individual influence on technology acceptance behaviour. This was done by investigating an individual’s subjective interpretation of the situation of technological change.

The central aim of this research study is to develop a greater understanding of the relationship between social and/or personal influence and technology acceptance behaviour. The study attempted to increase understanding about the ways in which social and personal influences affect an individual’s subjective interpretation of a situation of technological change in the working context. This was achieved by increasing an understanding of the subjective meaning, users attain in a situation of technological change.