Investigation into Factors that Influence the Use of the Web in Knowledge-Intensive Environments

Abstract

The paper develops a set of hypotheses regarding the relationship between the TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) constructs and external variables such as individual differences, organizational factors, and risk factors. It uses TAM as a basis to hypothesize the effects of each external variable on the use of the Web as knowledge-transfer tool in the university context. The sample of this study will be professors in a university. The contributions of this chapter are twofold. First of all, this study may give an insight regarding the question of when and who is an eager user of new technologies for learning. Secondly, this chapter is the first one to use technology acceptance model in the context of knowledge-management systems.