APPLYING TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE RESEARCH TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE FIRE SERVICE

Abstract

The role of a firefighter has remained relatively static over the years, but the way a firefighter documents incidents and accesses logs, maps, and a range of forms is changing from paper-based practices to digital media systems. Unsuccessful technology acceptance can negatively affect efficiency and work production. A better understanding of the variables that are most relevant to influencing firefighters’ acceptance of technology will help improve the success of the implementation of new ideas. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a model specific to the fire service and to gain a better understanding of the variables that influence technology acceptance in that field. How can technology acceptance research be applied to the fire service to better understand and influence the acceptance of information technology? A review of the literature reveals three relevant variables of technology acceptance in the fire service: self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, and social influence. These variables were tested using two thought experiments—one retrospective scenario and one prospective scenario. The thought experiments further refine the model by revealing that facilitating conditions had a positive relationship with self-efficacy. With a better understanding and leveraging of the variables that affect technology acceptance, fire administrators can improve the likelihood of acceptance.