| The purpose of this study was to explore the behavior of higher education institutions in adopting innovative information technology (IT) solutions before they have proven utility. The problem of practice addressed in this project was that unproven innovative technologies are being adopted into practice at institutions of higher education at rates that are unsustainable (Rowley & Sherman, 2001). A review of the literature did not surface research supporting the need to adopt IT innovations before they had clearly demonstrable uses. Six constructs were used to explore patterns of adoption. The quantitative instrument was unique in that it explored 20 IT innovations through six constructs (diffusion, infusion, alignment, recruitment, advocacy, and differentiation quadrant). The survey population was comprised of CIOs in the university system of Georgia. Key findings indicate that (a) institutions are diffusing more technology than can be infused, (b) technologies are not all well aligned with the goal of providing students with a clear (learning) advantage, (c) greater alignment is achieved with lower levels of innovation adoption, (d) technologies are used for recruiting purposes, (e) the assertion that students are pushing for ever increasing amounts of technological innovation is an overstatement and fluctuates according to the institution type, and (f) CIOs perceive the use technology as a differentiator of their institutions within the higher education industry. |
