Interaction between task characteristics and technology affordances: Task-technology fit and enterprise social media usage
Journal of Enterprise Information Management
ISSN: 1741-0398
Article publication date: 15 October 2019
Issue publication date: 22 January 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Enterprise social media (ESM) usage has gained considerable momentum within organizations. The purpose of this paper is to seek a better understanding of ESM usage based on the task environments and the technology affordances of ESM.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a survey consisting of 556 usable responses. Regression methods are applied to analyze the data.
Findings
This study finds strong support for the positive impact of task-technology fit on ESM usage. Considering separately, task equivocality had no impact; task interdependence had a negative effect on ESM usage; bridging social capital had a positive effect; and bonding social capital had a marginal impact on ESM usage.
Research limitations/implications
This research incorporated social capital into discussions of task-technology fit. A 2×2 matrix based on task equivocality and task interdependence was developed, which may be extended to other contexts or technologies.
Practical implications
ESM implementation should account for both task environments and the appropriate technology affordances. Individuals access bridging social capital to a greater extent than bonding social capital using ESM, and they do not use ESM when the task environments alone are considered.
Originality/value
This is an original study that considers task environments and technology affordances in the context of ESM usage. The findings offer valuable and timely contributions to both scholars and practitioners.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Zhejiang Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences Project (20NDJC102YB), National Natural Science Foundation of China (71772162, 71773115), Social Science Foundation of Ministry of Education in China (17YJA630028), Contemporary Business and Trade Research Center, and the Collaborative Innovation Center of Contemporary Business and Trade Circulation System Construction of Zhejiang Gongshang University, Special Funds Project for Promoting the Running Local Colleges and Universities in Zhejiang Province (Interdisciplinary Innovation Team Building for Internet and Management Change). This research is the achievement of the New Key Specialized Think Tank of Zhejiang Province (Zheshang Research Institute).
Citation
Fu, J., Shang, R.-A., Jeyaraj, A., Sun, Y. and Hu, F. (2020), "Interaction between task characteristics and technology affordances: Task-technology fit and enterprise social media usage", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-04-2019-0105
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited