The Research On Innovative Use Of Information Systems Of Individual And Group:Based On The Mutillevel Theory

Since the 1980’s, "information technology (IT) productivity paradox" is put forward, the relationship between the investment of information technology and productivity have been attracted much attention of scholars and managers. Many domestic and foreign researchers have proposed that an important reason of failing to exert information systems’value should be employees’ failing to make full use of the information systems or innovative use. Many of today’s information system are complex and configurability, and pose not only significant challenges for users, but also many opportunities for users. Meanwhile, the use of information systems exists on different levels. The relationship among different levels has been attracted much attention. However, there is only a little focus on the cross-level relationship from individual to collective innovative use of information systems. So, the aim of this study is to explore the cross-level process from individual to group innovative use of information systems.According to the studies on the cross-level process from individual to collective, this study attempts to build a situational contingency model of how individual innovative use of IS affects group innovative use. Based on multilevel theory, this study proposes that configural structure is an important role to group innovation. Building on self-categorization theory, innovative use diversity and task interdependence, as two kinds of group structural elements, have important effect on the process of individual to group innovative use. Given absorptive capacity theory, this research suggests that IS using time should affect employee’s absorptive capacity, which changes the effect of innovative use difference on the relationship between individual and group innovative use. Finally, as the research on antecedents of innovative use, this study explores the effect of intra-group networks structures on individual innovative use.Based on the survey of 220 group members in 55 work groups, this study made empirical analysis on above problems. Results show that the process of individual to group innovative use is hindered by innovative use difference, but promoted by task interdependence. Further, with the information systems’ using, the hampering effect of innovative use difference will be disappeared and transform to a facilitating role. This result is consistent with previously group diversity studies. Furthermore, it was found that intra-group network centrality has positive impact on the individual innovative use.The results suggest that, in addition to attention to individual innovativeness, managers should also pay attention to the different group structural attributes which play different role in different situation. Based on different situations and needs, managers should adopt different strategies to make full value of different structures, and promote group innovation. In addition, as promoting individual innovation, managers need to concern about the role of informal relationships.