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Top1. Introduction
Technological advances including the internet encourage government sector and private sector to invest in web-based services around the world (Choudrie and Weerrakody, 2007). A central issue in the area of information systems research is understanding effective discretionary usage of technology by employees at work. In a voluntary environment access and availability of technologies does not necessarily ensure effective use of technologies (Thompson and Higgins, 1991, Veiga et al., 2013). Although access to relevant information technology infrastructure is assured for all administrative staff at Australian city councils (the population under examination), the degree of adoption of eService of a business unit is still a voluntary decision, made by employees or managers of the relevant business unit. eService usage in the government sector is often criticized for its slower pace of adoption and lagging far behind private sector initiatives (Weerakkody and Choudrie, 2005). Several studies examine factors that influence an individual’s discretionary use of technology, such as personal computers, executive information systems, learning platforms, or the internet in the workplace (Thompson and Higgins, 1991, Bergeron et al., 1995, Chang and Cheung, 2001, Liu et al., 2010, Brown et al., 2010, Mitchell et al., 2012, Ngwenyama and Nielsen, 2014).
The central aim in this paper is to examine the effects of organisational change involving the introduction of new information technology on city councils in Australia. Models of organisational change involving the introduction of new technology have, for the most part, been limited to applications in private sector organisations. The current study examines the development of eServices in local government organisations, and how the introduction of this technology has been supported by change management principles and practices. Local government organisations are unique forms of organisation, which differ markedly from private sector business models. City councils are atypical form of public sector organisations, with organisational structures that have been stable for many years. City councils are typically considered to be resistant to innovation and are relatively inert compared to other forms of organisation (Newnham and Winston, 1997).
The current study seeks to overcome some of the identified weaknesses evident in prior research. Specifically the current study attempts to meet the identified need for workplace technology adoption research that look at multi-organisation samples, applies robust measurement scales, includes more expansive multivariate examinations of factors that influence technology adoption, and examine the influence of organisational as well as individual attitudes and beliefs on technology use and adoption (Thompson and Higgins, 1991, Pare and Elam, 1995, Al-Khaldi and Olusegun Wallace, 1999, Chang and Cheung, 2001, Jeyaraj et al., 2006, Coeurderoy et al., 2014).