Faculty Publications

An Analysis Of Is Professional And End User Causal Attributions For User-System Outcomes

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Attribution theory, IS professionals-end user attributions

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of End User Computing

Volume

14

Issue

4

First Page

51

Last Page

73

Abstract

The working relationship of information systems (IS) professionals and end users is an ongoing source of both research and practical concern. This study employs Attribution Theory to examine the causal attributions IS professionals and end users make for successful and unsuccessful user-system outcomes - end user attempts to use an information system to get the information needed to complete system-dependent, work-related tasks. Eighty-six IS professionals and 122 end users participated. The results show no differences in the nature of IS professional-end user attributions for successful outcomes, but very significant differences between them following unsuccessful outcomes. Post hoc analysis indicates that for unsuccessful user-system outcomes, the causal attributions of IS professionals and end users who are cross-functional team members are significantly less divergent than the causal attributions of those who are not. The implications of Attribution Theory for IS professional-end user interaction are discussed.

Department

Department of Management

Original Publication Date

1-1-2002

DOI of published version

10.4018/joeuc.2002100104

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