Reviewing Information Systems Usage and Performance Models

Abstract

A journal article by Dr. Clive Tsuma Katiba, an adjunct faculty at USIU-A.

Evaluating technology usage and performance has been a major challenge in the Information Systems (IS) field. Several successful attempts have been made by information system researchers aimed at building and testing theories that explain the impacts of these technologies. The constantly changing contexts of information technology continue to throw-up deficiencies with the existing models. Through a methodological review of existing models that studies human interactions with systems, prominent IS theories like the technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of reasoned action (TRA), technology-to-performance model etc were reviewed in this study. The findings of this study showed the following deficiencies: (a) some of these theories either focuses on intention to use information systems only, usage or performance. (b) None of these theories included the construct satisfaction from the post-usage dimension. (c) None of the models used constructs such as computer self-efficacy and TAM’s external constructs as precursors of utilization. (d) The high level of unexplained variance associated with the current models. This study therefore present a hybrid IS model for evaluating key factors predicting IS usage, satisfaction and performance in a mandatory e-learning usage environment. The implications for end-users, institutions and software developers is the availability of a framework for the assessment of current and future systems in terms of attitude towards use, IT usage, end-user satisfaction and performance.