An analysis of factors influencing general user information satisfaction including system-specific user information satisfaction

A significant portion of information system (IS) research involves the study of information system success (ISS). The most popular measure of ISS is user information satisfaction (UIS). There are two streams of UIS research: research of general UIS and research of system-specific UIS. Previously these two streams were treated separately.; This study linked these two streams together. A model of general UIS was developed which included the system-specific UIS of a user's top three most important systems. System-specific UIS was hypothesized to positively influence general UIS. In addition, sector and tap management support were hypothesized to influence both general UIS and system-specific UIS. For each specific application, it was also hypothesized that literacy, educational support, and user involvement for a particular application positively influenced the UIS of that application.; Ninety-nine respondents from three public-sector organizations (large city governments) and two Fortune 500 private-sector organizations completed the two questionnaires. The respondents were non-IS, non-secretarial, "white collar" workers who had a personal computer on their desk which they used regularly with at least three applications.; Path analysis (along with backward elimination multiple regression) was used to find significant relationships. The major research hypothesis was supported. There is a linkage between system-specific UIS and general UIS. The UIS of the top two most important applications were found to significantly influence general UIS. Top management support and application literacy (understanding/ skills) were also found to have significant relationships. Sector was not significant although there may be methodological reasons for the lack of significance.; The implications of this study primarily affect IS research and management. Future IS research which models general UIS should include system-specific UIS as influential variables. In addition, top management support and application literacy may help explain the variation in general UIS and system-specific UIS. Management can increase general UIS by focusing on increasing the UIS of the systems that the user perceives as the most important applications. In addition, management can have a positive influence on UIS by improving perception of top management support and increasing the user's perception of their application literacy.