| Mobile Data Technologies (MDT) are a natural extension to the traditional office computing environment. MDT usage growth outpaced desktop computers in 2004 by 36% compared to 8%. It is predicted that 66% of the workforce will be mobile by 2007. This research aims at identifying what factors influenced Canadian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises most in making a decision to adopt an MDT, and how that decision to adopt an MDT was initiated, evaluated and approved.; Based on existing innovation literature, two A-Priori theoretical frameworks were developed. In the first framework, the variance theory approach was taken and 15 variables were included to test their influence on the decision to adopt. Out of these, 10 were found to be significantly important. In the second framework, the innovation process theory approach was taken to explore how a decision to adopt an MDT was initiated, evaluated and approved. Content analysis revealed that there was almost a total lack of formal business case creation to evaluate the MDTs and that the approval process was brief. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire and structured interviews involving 34 respondents. |
