Ensuring long-term adoption of technology: Mandated use and individual habit as factors that establish technology into healthcare practice

Over two decades MIS Research has identified wide range of individual influences which shape user attitude and lead to the initial acceptance of new technology. The research has emphasized expanding the knowledge base of attitudinal influences that shape the development of intention to use. Far less is known regarding the development of usage behaviors and their integration and habitualization within existing practices after the initial acceptance.; This research explores the relationship between intention to use, habit development, and the actual long-term use of technology. It compares between the development of individual habit and technology use in voluntary conditions where individual choice drives use, versus habitualization in mandated settings where organizational rules define the nature of usage patterns. In voluntary settings cognitive attitudes and intentions drive the behavior of individuals. In organizationally mandated settings, usage behaviors establish habits which subsequently shape attitudes regarding the technology.; The study shows significant differences between the attitude-behavior relationship in voluntary and mandated adoption settings. It also shows that individual habit is a significant mediator between attitudes and behavior. In voluntary users behavioral intention is a significant influence on use, but it also shapes development of habits. In mandated setting technology use is not significantly related to attitudes and intentions, but instead shapes individual habit, which mediates between use and attitude formation. The salience of habit builds attitudes towards technology, but also weakens active cognition (behavioral intention) as the driver which initiates use.