Decision-aiding software in natural resource management: A study of intentions to adopt

It is becoming increasingly difficult for natural resource managers, to process, sort out, and apply pertinent information when an informed management decision is needed. Contemporary ecosystem management requires accessing and using large amounts of accumulated information in a diversity of disciplines. Computer software, specifically designed to aid in the natural resource manager's decision-making process, can enhance their ability to view the greatest range of options and decide among them with greater confidence and insight. These decision-aiding software include simulation models, databases, visualization systems, and expert systems. A major problem in implementing these tools is lack of understanding of why these software are not widely used by intended users. The central question addressed in this dissertation is: How significant are certain perceived software characteristics in affecting a potential user's intention to adopt decision-aiding software? Based on theories of innovation diffusion, reasoned action, and motivation, and pilot interviews with resource managers, a software adoption model was developed to help explain why some software are successfully used and some are not. Methods used included focus group interviews, one-on-one interviews, and an individually administered survey to test the model. Qualitative and quantitative data analyses were used to identify and examine adoption-influencing software characteristics.; Initial interviews suggested that several factors were important to adoption: inclusion of end users in software design, ease of use, an improvement over existing tools, software introduction geared to the end user, view of software as a decision aid rather than a decision maker, understanding of the environment in which end users make their decisions, reliability of data on which the model is based, and goals of software design centering on usability rather than publications. These factors were used to develop a model, SAM (Software Adoption Model), that shows relationships among five factors (relative advantage, trialability, compatibility, complexity, and participatory design), three attitudinal variables, and intention to adopt. Testing of this model indicated that participatory design and compatibility had the greatest influence on attitudes and intention to adopt by resource managers. Both of these elements need to have greater emphasis in software design.