Title: RFID technology: a retrospective look at firm adoption with a view towards the future

Authors: James R. Stock; Diane R. Edmondson; Jennifer A. Espinosa; Robert J. Riggle; Terry Sincich

Addresses: University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, BSN 3403, Tampa, FL 33620, USA ' Middle Tennessee State University, MTSU Box 75, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA ' Rohrer College of Business, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA ' The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, 171 Moultrie Street, Bond Hall – School of Business, Charleston, South Carolina 29409, USA ' University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, BSN 3403, Tampa, FL 33620, USA

Abstract: This study examines the earliest stage of RFID technology development and the factors that led firms to adopt RFID technology, so as to establish a baseline to examine the present adoption of the technology. We looked for differences between voluntary and required adoption of RFID, and factors that increased the likelihood of voluntary RFID adoption. It was found that firms required to adopt RFID technology did so with a limited number of customers, while those that voluntarily adopted RFID technology did so with more customers. Firms voluntarily choose to adopt RFID technology due to external pressure, a weak power position in the supply chain and a history of prior technology adoption. Positive perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of RFID technology increased the likelihood of RFID adoption. Several research questions are posed that when investigated, would provide insights into the changes that have occurred in the industry.

Keywords: channel conflict; channel power; innovation diffusion; logistic regression; radio frequency identification; RFID; technology adoption; technology development; required adoption; voluntary adoption; external pressure; weak power position; prior experience; perceived usefulness; perceived ease of use.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVCM.2016.080434

International Journal of Value Chain Management, 2016 Vol.7 No.4, pp.317 - 351

Received: 12 Jul 2016
Accepted: 15 Jul 2016

Published online: 22 Nov 2016 *

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