Predicting Electronic Communication System Adoption: The Influence of Adopter Perceptions of Continuous or Discontinuous Innovation

Abstract

This study examines whether perceptions of the type of innovation (discontinuous relative to continuous) influences predictions of electronic communication system adoption. The factors that influence adoption and their relative importance are hypothesized to differ depending on whether the electronic communication system is perceived as continuous or discontinuous by the adopter. A survey of firms’ intentions to adopt customer relationship management software is used to test the hypotheses. The theoretical bases of the study are the Gatignon and Robertson (1989) model of diffusion and the behavioral delineation of continuous and discontinuous innovations (Rogers, 1983).