Assessing the Underlying Factors Influencing the Adoption of Technological Innovations in South African Facility Management

Abstract

There is limited information on the factors influencing the adoption of technological innovation (TI) in merging economies as compared to the developed economies. It therefore implies that most of the factors influencing TI adoption in literature lack empirical basis from the developing economies. Hence, this study examines the underlying factors influencing the adoption of technological innovations in South African facility management. The literature review revealed 26 factors that influence the adoption of TI in facility management (FM) organizations. These factors were thematically categorized into 6 constructs. A structured questionnaire was developed to assess these construct among 85 FM organizations registered with the South African Facilities Management Association. Non-parametric statistical tool was employed using the Relative importance index approach (RII) to examine the factors that affect the adoption of TI in South Africa as an emerging economy. The findings showed that the top three factors influencing the adoption of TI in South Africa FM organizations are: improved decision-making, apparent usefulness of technology, and increased job efficiency, while the top three constructs that influence the adoption of TI in South Africa FM organizations are: effort expectancy, social influence, and performance expectancy respectively. The finding of this study shows that ‘effort expectancy” and “social influence” are stronger construct in developing economy such as South Africa as against “performance expectancy” construct that appeared prominent in developed economies. It is recommended that country specific factors should be considered when adopting technology in different climes.