Title: Information systems continuance: the role of incentives and goal harmony

Authors: Tove Bøe; Boge Gulbrandsen; Tom Roar Eikebrokk

Addresses: School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Norway ' School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Norway ' Department of Information Systems, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

Abstract: This paper extends information systems continuance theory (ISCT) and integrates it with a managerial perspective. Our study integrates principal-agent theory (PAT) to capture the managerial influence on users' continued use of information technology. We argue that the two theories offer complementary explanations, ameliorate each other's shortcomings, and enhance our ability to explain and predict IS continuance. As predicted by PAT, the study finds support for the effects of goal harmony and incentives on users' continuance decisions. Additionally, goal harmony reduces the positive relationship between incentives and continuance. While the supported ISCT model shows an explained variance of 37%, the full model explains 51% of the variance of the dependent variable, indicating that the integrative model is more powerful in explaining user continuance than is ISCT in isolation. The study advances the theoretical understanding of continued use of IS from both a personal and a managerial perspective and offers proposals for organisational actions.

Keywords: information systems continuance theory; ISCT; agency theory; goal harmony; incentives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITM.2021.119897

International Journal of Information Technology and Management, 2021 Vol.20 No.4, pp.335 - 355

Accepted: 04 Jul 2018
Published online: 23 Dec 2021 *

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