Technology–organization–environment framework

The technology-organization-environment framework, also known as the TOE framework, is a theoretical framework that explains technology adoption in organizations and describes how the process of adopting and implementing technological innovations are influenced by the technological context, organizational context, and environmental context. Louis G. Tornatzky and Mitchell Fleischer published the model in 1990.[1]

Numerous application examples of the TOE framework have been summarized by Olivera and Martins (2011).[2]

As Awa, Ojiabo & Orokor (2017) reiterated,[3] the TOE framework is for organizational level analysis. The framework focuses on higher level attributes (i.e. the technological, organizational, and environmental contexts) instead of detailed behaviors of individuals in the organization. To understand technology adoption at individual level, behavioral models such as the theory of reasoned action, the theory of planned behavior, and the technology acceptance model should be applied. While this classification of organization level theory and individual level theory is generally accepted, it also leads to the difficulty of how to investigate the higher level attributes. Information can only be obtained from individuals in the target organization and hence inevitably biased by individuals' viewpoints. Li (2020) has demonstrated a rough equivalence of behavioral models and TOE framework when individual perception has been taken into account.[4]

Despite the TOE framework having been widely used, it has undergone limited theoretical development since its introduction.[5] According to Zhu and Kraemer (2005),[6] the reason for the lack of development is that the TOE framework is "too generic" and offers a high degree of freedom to vary factors and measures so there is little need to change the theory itself. Another important reason, according to Baker (2012), is the theory aligns "too well" with other technology adoption theories and does not offer competitive explanations.[5] Thus, there is very limited tension to modify the framework.

References
  1. Tornatzky, Louis G.; Fleischer, Mitchell (1990). The Processes of Technological Innovation. Issues in organization and management series. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books. ISBN 9780669203486. OCLC 20669819.
  2. Oliveira, Tiago; Martins, Maria Fraga (2011). "Literature review of information technology adoption models at firm level". The Electronic Journal Information Systems Evaluation. 14 (1): 110–121.
  3. Awa, Hart O.; Ojiabo, Ojiabo Ukoha; Orokor, Longlife E. (2017). "Integrated technology-organization-environment (T-O-E) taxonomies for technology adoption". Journal of Enterprise Information Management. 30 (6): 893–921. doi:10.1108/JEIM-03-2016-0079.
  4. Li, Jerry C. F. (2020). "Roles of individual perception in technology adoption at organization level: behavioral model versus TOE framework" (PDF). Journal of System and Management Sciences. 10 (3): 97–118. doi:10.33168/JSMS.2020.0308.
  5. Baker, Jeff (2012). "The technology–organization–environment framework". In Dwivedi, Yogesh Kumar; Wade, Michael R.; Schneberger, Scott L. (eds.). Information Systems Theory: Explaining and Predicting Our Digital Society, Vol. 1. Integrated series in information systems. Vol. 28. New York: Springer. pp. 231–245. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-6108-2_12. ISBN 9781441961075. OCLC 757742355.
  6. Zhu, Kevin; Kraemer, Kenneth L. (2005). "Post-adoption variations in usage and value of e-business by organizations: cross-country evidence from the retail industry" (PDF). Information Systems Research. 16 (1): 61–84. doi:10.1287/isre.1050.0045. S2CID 11535929.
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