Adoption of enterprise social networking: Revisiting the IT innovation adoption model of Hameed et al

Enterprise social networking (ESN) is still an underused IT innovation; although its advantages are widely recognized, its adoption remains a challenge. This research aims to study the characteristics involved in the adoption process of ESN by using the integrative conceptual model of Hameed et al., which combines the individual/organizational dimensions of adoption with the three-phase adoption process dimensions (i.e., pre-adoption, adoption, and post-adoption). Based on exploratory qualitative research, our research question is twofold: What are the specific characteristics of the adoption of IT innovation involved in the adoption of ESN? What new insights into the adoption of IT innovation does ESN reveal? We identify that “security”—already well known as a characteristic of the IT innovation factor that influences adoption—is a characteristic of the organizational factor too. Eighteen characteristics identified are in line with the conceptual model but not present in the corresponding phases of the adoption of IT innovation. In terms of the innovation factor, we identify that “compatibility” and “security” are new characteristics in the pre-adoption phase, and that “business process re-engineering” is a new characteristic in the pre-adoption and adoption phases. Regarding the organizational factors, we identify that “image” and “information-sharing culture” are new characteristics in the pre-adoption phase, and that “security” is a new characteristic in all three phases. For the environmental factor, we identify that “partners support” is a new characteristic of the post-adoption phase. Finally, for the user acceptance factor, we identify that “perceived usefulness” and “attitude towards use” are new characteristics in the pre-adoption phase, “perceived playfulness” is a new characteristic in the pre-adoption and adoption phases, “user involvement” is a new characteristic in the pre-adoption and post-adoption phases, and “user age” is a new characteristic in all three phases. Overall, we underline that the most critical stage is pre-adoption: this is the period in which most of the characteristics are concentrated, and in which most of the challenges of adopting ESN arise.