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An empirical study on the determinants of success of personal decision support systems in organizations
Abstract
Personal computing--one type of computer technology--enables the use of computing resources by non-DP personnel to carry out their jobs. Personal computing, and the microcomputer which support it, are referred to as Personal Decision Support System (PDSS) (Lehman, 1984). Empirical studies regarding personal computing have been of the general field study type, primarily examining trends and/or establishing the basic concept of personal computing. This study intends to enhance the understanding of user behavior in the context of microcomputers used for personal decision support. To accomplish this task, this dissertation builds and empirically tests a research model that conceptualizes some "impact" variables which are internal to the user, as intervening in the relationship between the "situational" or external variables identified by previous MIS research and system success (utilization, decision performance, and satisfaction). This research investigates user attitudes and intention to further our understanding of the why and how of these relationships. This study employs a framework, based on Lucas' model (1973) and Fishbein and Ajzen's intention-behavior model (1975), to integrate variables indicated to be important by previous findings in MIS studies, and to provide a micro-description of how those variables affect success of personal DSS. The conceptual model consists of six independent variables (users' experience and education, end-user tools, end-user support, end-user training, task repetitiveness, and task analyzability) and their impact on three intermediate variables (attitude, intention, and actual usage) and one dependent variable (user satisfaction). The methodology employed in this study involves a two-phased cross sectional field survey of personal DSS users in seven large organizations. The data used in the analyses were derived from 56 questionnaire items from 121 respondents. The principal components factor analyses technique generated 10 composite scales, which were tested for reliability and construct validity. To examine the mechanisms by which the independent and intermediate variables affect success, eight hypotheses were investigated using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Path Analysis was used to test the overall conceptual model. Three hypotheses were supported. Although the study failed to shed light on how the determinants affect success, if confirmed the underlying conceptual framework of Fishbein's model.
Subject Area
Management
Recommended Citation
Teh, Her Hock, "An empirical study on the determinants of success of personal decision support systems in organizations" (1990). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9108250.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9108250