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Environmental and organizational drivers influencing the adoption of VoIP

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Abstract

Previous research recognized the importance of studying the organizational adoption of a new communication technology because of its potential benefits on the organizational and individual outcome. However, extant studies took into account just a single theoretical perspective lacking a more comprehensive overview of the factors, which may influence the intention to adopt a new communication technology. Since the growing interest of voice over IP (VoIP) we developed our theoretical framework and tested our hypotheses considering this emerging communication technology. Thus, the present research considers simultaneously the institutional, management fashion, and efficient-choice perspectives for understanding the drivers of VoIP adoption process. A theoretical model is developed and tested through structural equation modelling on 620 Italian firms. We hypothesize that both external and internal factors affect the intention to adopt VoIP. Results underscore both the importance of coercive and fashion setters’ pressure (i.e. external factors), and the pivotal role of perceived internal benefits (i.e. internal factors) in shaping intention to adopt.

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Notes

  1. The stratification is based upon: industry (social and public services, retailing, finance, manufacturing, defense and government, healtcare, services, utilities), size, and geographical location.

  2. We used the software PLS Graph 03.00 Build.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Organization and Information Systems, Bocconi University, Viale Isonzo 23, 20135, Milan, Italy

    Stefano Basaglia, Leonardo Caporarello, Massimo Magni & Ferdinando Pennarola

Authors
  1. Stefano Basaglia
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  2. Leonardo Caporarello
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  3. Massimo Magni
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  4. Ferdinando Pennarola
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefano Basaglia.

Additional information

An earlier version of this paper has been presented at ECIS 2007 (St Gallen, Switzerland).

Questionnaire

Questionnaire

  • Mimetic pressure

    • What is the degree of VoIP adoption among your competitors?

    • The competitors that adopted VoIP obtained significant benefits related to the quality of communication services? (dropped)

  • Normative pressure

    • What is the degree of VoIP adoption among your customers?

    • What is the degree of VoIP adoption among your suppliers?

  • Coercive pressure

    • Has your parent organization adopted a VoIP system?

  • Fashion setters’ pressure

    • During the last few months have you read any columns on newspapers and magazines that promoted or gave information about VoIP systems?

    • During the last few months have you attended any conferences on VoIP systems?

    • During the last few months have you attended meetings with other companies’ CIOs in which you discussed about VoIP systems?

  • Progressiveness

    • VoIP systems represent a practice that characterizes a modern, dynamic company

    • VoIP systems are considered a legitimated way to manage communication in the industry your firm belongs to

  • Perceived internal benefits

  • VoIP adoption is related to…

    • …the possibility to reduce costs

    • …the possibility to reduce infrastructural complexity

  • Attention toward users

  • VoIP adoption is related to…

    • …the possibility to offer new and useful services to our employees

    • …the informal adoption of VoIP systems among our employees

  • Intention to adopt

    • Our firm is contemplating VoIP adoption within a year

    • We intend to adopt VoIP within 1 year

  • Complexity

    • It is difficult to understand the impact of VoIP on organizational processes

    • It is difficult to understand the VoIP from a technological point of view

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Basaglia, S., Caporarello, L., Magni, M. et al. Environmental and organizational drivers influencing the adoption of VoIP. Inf Syst E-Bus Manage 7, 103–118 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-008-0077-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-008-0077-1

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