A study of the relationship between personality types and the acceptance of technical knowledge management systems (TKMS)

Technical knowledge management systems (TKMSs) are not achieving the usage (acceptance) and the benefits that have been forecasted and are therefore, not enhancing competitive advantage and profits in organizations (Comb, 2004, Assessing customer relationship management strategies for creating competitive advantage in electronic business). Therefore, hardware and software must discover ways to ensure that the TKMSs are accepted and used by all customers. This research investigated the relationship of personality (through the Five-Factor Personality Model) to technology acceptance of TKMS (using the Technology Acceptance Model - TAM). This study tested the relationship between the major personality types and the intent to accept or fail to accept TKMSs, using an integrative model that combines the TAM (Davis, 1989, Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology) and the Five-Factor Model (FFM; personality). Members of IT, KM, Academia and Psychology LinkedIn Groups, the SIKMLeaders Groups and IEEE were administered a survey that measured their personality traits and their perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use for TKMSs. Results of study showed that TKMS users exhibiting the openness personality trait were more accepting of the TKMSs (based on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness). The results also showed that TKMS users exhibiting the extraversion personality trait were more accepting of the TKMSs (based on perceived ease of use). Consequently, it is recommended that organizations and companies that research and distribute TKMSs consider the personality traits of users when researching and designing these TKMSs. The potential benefits could bolster competitive advantage in the information technology arena and forward the study of personality trait relationships in information technology-related fields.