Information system usage and national culture: evidence from the public service sector Online publication date: Tue, 09-Dec-2008
by Helaiel Almutairi
International Journal of Society Systems Science (IJSSS), Vol. 1, No. 2, 2008
Abstract: As more public services depend on information systems in internal processes and outputs deliveries, issues such as the study of factors impacting information system usage (ISU) become more important as an approach to increase public services' efficiency and effectiveness. This paper presents a report of a study on the impact of national culture on information system usage in Kuwait. Three national culture variables were chosen: uncertainty avoidance, power distance and collectivism/individualism. The study was conducted at the Kuwaiti governmental ministries. It was found that national culture variables have an impact on ISU both directly and indirectly through intermediate variables. In the ministries, power distance was found to have a direct impact on ISU, while uncertainty avoidance was found to have an indirect impact on it, mediated by effort expectancy. Similarly, collectivism was found to have an indirect impact on ISU mediated by performance expectancy. Several research and practical implications of the study's findings are presented at the end of the paper.
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