Indicator-Based Model for Prospective Technology Acceptance Estimation

RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen)

Abstract

In the course of accelerated innovation cycles, technology acceptance is becoming more and more important, especially for developers of new technologies. Within the framework of acceptance-oriented research, various models have been developed that attempt to explain the emergence of acceptance on the basis of socio-technical indicators. Despite increasing societal relevance, there is still no holistic technology acceptance model that enables a dynamic (technology-independent) and prospective measurement of the acceptance of a technology. Such a model should be conceived and designed in a way that conclusions about the acceptance of the technology can be drawn already during technological development processes and on the basis of valid indicators. This would allow flexible, user-oriented adjustments with regard to technology design in an agile way. The aspect of dynamics refers to the necessary cross-technology applicability of the model. Within the framework of the dissertation, a corresponding acceptance model will be developed and validated based on a case study that can be used by developers of new technologies for prospective acceptance assessment. Important components of the model are indicators or indicator clusters (technology, user, environment) that make it possible to measure and thus assess the degree of acceptance of technological innovations. The catalogue of indicators generated in this way can be used as an instrument for prospective acceptance measurement and supports a more conscious, user-oriented introduction of technological innovations into the market. Another important component is a selection system in which the future user is also involved. Depending on the technology, this system is used to identify the relevant indicators for acceptance estimation (e. g. user-friendliness). Part of the selection process is the presentation of the technological innovation to the users with the help of information materials, prototypes and/or mock-ups. This process enables potential users to develop a comprehensive idea of the technology and its practical application and thus supports a tailor-made selection of the relevant indicators. The applicability of the model will be tested prospectively and retrospectively by accompanying the introduction of a new technology (software to monitor technologies) at the Fraunhofer Institute for Scientific and Technical Trend Analysis (INT) and by means of statistical analysis methods. Within the framework of the first model application, 26 indicators were identified as influencing factors for the determination of acceptance. On the basis of the statistical analysis it could be shown that there is a connection between the prospective and the retrospective survey. This indicates that prospective statements about the retrospective acceptance are possible on the basis of the model.

Authors 1

1. Stephanie Hansen-Casteel corresponding Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen