1. MOIS 508 Spring 2006 Dr. Dina Rateb
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: A COPING MODEL OF USER ADAPTATION
MOIS 508
Spring 2006
Dr. Dina Rateb
By: Ahmed Ramadan

2. User Adaptation Strategies
Contents
Introduction
The coping theory
The coping process.
User Adaptation Strategies
Benefits Maximizing Strategy
Benefits Satisficing Strategy
Disturbance Handling Strategy
Self-Preservation Strategy
User Adaptation Process as a Whole
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

3. Introduction
The introduction of a new information technology generates a multitude of expected and unexpected consequences in the users’ environment
Two main streams of research have addressed the task of explaining why, and trying to predict how, users will react to new technologies;
variance approach
focused on the past history of adoption and usage of new technologies
Four models have identified factors that can influence user adaptation (e.g., performance expectancy, social influence, task-technology fit, and compatibility)
process approach
focused on user adaptation and its effects on outcomes such as group performance
Described how users change their skills, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, aspirations, and work commitment, modify their work procedures and communication patterns, and adapt/use the technology in unanticipated ways
There is a need for a framework that integrates both approaches and allows studying the antecedents, behaviors, and outcomes of user adaptation together
This paper is proposing an integrative model, the coping model of user adaptation (CMUA).
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

4. Coping Theory
The cognitive and behavioral efforts exerted to manage specific external and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person
altering the subjective
meaning of the event acceptance,
distancing and escaping
Emerges from the social environment
and must be met by individuals.
They are related to the roles one has
to play in a given environment
altering the situation itself
seeking additional information & evidence
and confronting individuals
personal desires that the
Environment must meet,
(e.g. getting challenging work versus
the challenges that a job carries)
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

5. The Coping Process
Individuals cope with disruptions by using two key sub processes that continuously influence each other (Appraisal & Coping effort).
First: Appraisal; Individuals evaluate the potential consequences of an event and the coping options available to them.
Primary appraisal: They assess the nature of the particular event and its personal importance and relevance. Disruptive events have been categorized into two main types (or comprise):
Challenges (events perceived as having positive consequences)
Threats (events perceived as having negative consequences)
Secondary appraisal: They determine the level of control they exert over the situation and what they feel they can do about it given the coping resources available to them.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

6. The Coping Process
Second: Coping efforts; Individuals perform different actions to deal with the situation at hand. Actions are categorized as;
Problem-focused coping aims at managing the disruptive issue itself by;
changing the environment (altering environmental pressures, resources, or procedures)
changing one’s self (developing new standards of behavior, learning new skills or procedures).
Emotion-focused coping changes one’s perception of the situation (to maintain a sense of stability), but does not alter the situation itself. It includes
Minimizing the consequences of threats (maintaining hope and optimism)
Positive comparison (comparing one’s situation with other situations that are worse off)
Situation redefinition and passive acceptance
Avoidance (escaping the situation)
Denial (Acting as if the event never happened)
Seeking psychological or emotional support.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

7. The Coping Model of User Adaptation (CMUA)
It is defined as;
The cognitive and behavioral efforts exerted by users to manage specific consequences associated with a significant IT event that occurs in their work environment.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

8. User Adaptation Strategies (Four Principal Adaptation Strategies)
Opportunity
Threat
Primary Appraisal
a user’s assessment of the expected consequences of an IT event
Benefits
Satisficing
Benefits
Maximizing
Self-Preservation
Disturbance
Handling
High Control
Low Control
Secondary Appraisal
a user’s assessment of his/her control over the situation (Work, Self & Technology)
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

9. Three different individual-level outcomes
Improving user effectiveness and efficiency
Minimizing the perceived threats of the technology
Restoring emotional stability
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

10. Benefits Maximizing Strategy
Satisficing
Self-Preservation
Maximizing
Disturbance
Handling
High Control
Low Control
Opportunity
Threat
Benefits Maximizing Strategy
Adaptation efforts will be mainly problem-focused and oriented to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the IT event and maximize personal benefits.
Users can achieve this objective by;
Adapting the work system
(modify operational procedures, focus users’ time on the most important and productive activities)
Adapting the technology
(modify, add, delete screens; personalize the IT; change its functionalities)
Adapting themselves
(develop new standards of behavior by extensively using the IT, shift levels of aspiration and channels of gratification such as becoming the renowned “expert” user, seek training).
Proposition 1: When the perceived consequences of an IT event are appraised as an opportunity and users feel that they have control over the situation, they will engage in a benefits maximizing strategy, which will increase their individual efficiency and effectiveness.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

11. Benefits Satisficing Strategy
Self-Preservation
Maximizing
Disturbance
Handling
High Control
Low Control
Opportunity
Threat
Benefits Satisficing Strategy
Adaptation efforts are likely to be minimal.
Emotion-focused efforts will be limited because users do not feel the need to reduce tensions emanating from the IT event
Problem-focused efforts will be limited because users feel they cannot do much to further exploit the IT and reap its benefits.
Therefore, users will satisfy themselves with the benefits the IT offers, which, in absence of individual adaptation, are likely to be limited.
Proposition 2: When the perceived consequences of an IT event are appraised as an opportunity and users feel that they have limited control over the situation, they will engage in a benefits satisficing strategy, which will have limited effects on their individual efficiency and effectiveness.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

12. Disturbance Handling Strategy
Benefits
Satisficing
Self-Preservation
Maximizing
Disturbance
Handling
High Control
Low Control
Opportunity
Threat
Disturbance Handling Strategy
Likely to rely on problem-focused adaptation to manage the situation and on emotion-focused adaptation to minimize the expected negative consequences and restore emotional stability.
Adaptation efforts are likely to be oriented toward;
One’s self (seeking training)
The technology (reducing the negative aspects of the new system, changing the features of the IT)
The task (adjusting work procedures so that they better fit with the technology).
Successful adaptation will lead to restoring personal emotional stability and to minimizing the perceived negative consequences associated with the IT event. It is also possible that users are able to turn an IT event around and improve their individual efficiency and effectiveness.
Proposition 3: When the perceived consequences of an IT event are appraised as a threat and users feel that they have control over the situation, they will engage in a disturbance handling strategy, which will restore their emotional stability and minimize the perceived negative consequences of the event. It can also increase their individual efficiency and effectiveness.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

13. Self-Preservation Strategy
Benefits
Satisficing
Self-Preservation
Maximizing
Disturbance
Handling
High Control
Low Control
Opportunity
Threat
Self-Preservation Strategy
Adaptation efforts will be mainly emotion-focused and aimed at restoring emotional stability and reducing the tensions from the IT event.
Users will try to change their perception of the IT event by;
Minimizing the perceived negative consequences (e.g., maintaining hope that the expected negative consequences will not materialize)
Positive comparison (comparing themselves to other users who are worse off)
Self-deception and avoidance
Distancing (reducing their involvement in their work).
This strategy, if successful, will restore emotional stability but will have little or no impact on users’ performance at work. avoided the system, using it as little as possible, and distanced themselves from their work.
Proposition 4: When the perceived consequences of an IT event are appraised as a threat and users feel that they have limited control the situation, they will engage in a self-preservation strategy, which will restore their emotional stability. It can also minimize the perceived negative consequences of the event.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

14. User Adaptation Process as a Whole
Proposition 5: The adaptation efforts and outcomes lead to the reappraisal of the IT event, which can trigger a new sequence of adaptation efforts.
UNDERSTANDING USER RESPONSES TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOIS Spring 2006

15. Thank you
Questions?