Title: Instant messaging adoption in China: implications for young entrepreneurs

Authors: Suodi Zhang; Ping Gao; Jinghua Li

Addresses: School of Management Science and Engineering, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China ' Institute for Development Policy and Management, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK ' School of Business Administration, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Abstract: Instant messaging (IM) is a popular internet application. In China, there are more than ten IM products competing with each other. Of them, Tencent's QQ owned and managed by a young Chinese entrepreneur is in a dominant position taking about 90% of the market share. This paper identifies the factors that determine the wide adoption of QQ by students and staffs in a Chinese university, which are social influence, enjoyment and communications effectiveness associated with this IM. Practical implications for young entrepreneurs as the main forces of IM business are offered.

Keywords: IM adoption; China; impacting factors; instant messaging; young entrepreneurs; QQ; entrepreneurship; university students; university staff; academics; social influence; enjoyment; communications effectiveness; social media.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2014.064968

International Journal of Technology Management, 2014 Vol.66 No.4, pp.288 - 301

Received: 23 Dec 2012
Accepted: 05 Sep 2013
Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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