Examining the relationship that age, gender, experience and communication technology has on acceptance and use of information technology: Using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model

This research studied the Jenzabar sofiware users at a university to examine the relationship that age, gender, experience and communication technology has to the acceptance and utilization of Information technology (IT). The Jenzabar Software product studied offers a portal solution, designed especially for higher education that provides the campus with a single point of access to a limitless number of communication services with Microsoft Windows as its technology component. This study used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model as its foundation. UTAUT is an empirically validated model that combined eight major models of technology acceptance and their extensions (Venkatesh, Morris, and Davis & Davis 2003). The research examined three of the four core determinants from UTAUT that of: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and analyzed attitude toward using technology against usage. The research studied the effect of three of UTAUT's moderating variables: age, gender and experience, and added another moderating variable COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYto study its effect on IT use and acceptance. The study addressed the main question. "What are the effects of age, gender, experience and communication technology on behavioral intentions and usage behavior of Information technology? " Findings supported that a significant relationship exist between experience and social influence when users felt using the technology increased their image within the organization. Another significant relationship was noted between gender and effort expectancy when technology was believed easy to use. The research on the new variable communication technology found that with adequate training of new technology resistance decreases in both younger and older adults; that younger adults find training more informative and beneficial than older adults; that younger adults find the transition from an old system to the new system easier than older adults and that women more than men are excited about the change of using a new technology. This study provided additional information for IS Professionals on how best to communicate to users when introducing updates or new technology; IS Researchers on interesting areas for future research; Business Administrators in decision making and planning the implementation of new technology and Educators in training and textbook material.