Date of Award

1-7-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. John Caputo

Second Advisor

Dr. Elizabeth Davis

Abstract

Explanatory qualitative research has primarily focused on resistance to information and communication technologies (ICT) due to age of the user, computerphobia, lack of trust in computer usage, socio-economic barriers, organizational politics, and non-alphabetical language. Global organizations are utilizing ICT as their primary means of communicating with their workforce. Human communication has evolved as man has evolved and in today’s world communication is via multiple mediums. Verbal, Face-to-Face, non-verbal, written and electronic communications may all take place between one pair of individuals and their circle of friends, family and total strangers. Social Information Processing (SIP) theory by J. B. Walthers was developed to explain that relationships develop in proportion to the amount of information shared between individuals based upon first impressions. The development of these relationships is further challenged when it takes place electronically. Walthers also believed that with some additional electronic communications, approximately 40 minutes, computer-mediated communications (CMC) would be just as successful as Face-to-Face (FtF) communications. Social Presence theory suggests that the use of CMC challenges the receiver in determining if a human constructed the message. When employees choose to not read official emails it is imperative to the organization to find the cause and remedy it as soon as possible. Until the situation is remedied the workforce will create a work-around which may have a direct negative impact on the bottom line to the business of the organization. This study has provided insight on another type of resistance to ICT. Using open-ended interviews, the researcher sought to understand why there might be resistance to reading official emails on the part of blue-collar workers. Analysis of data provided by participants sheds light on their challenges to accessing official emails. The results indicated that, while some CHALLENGES TO INCREASING NEW TECHNOLOGY USAGE previously studied resistance was found, the prevalent response was two-fold: lack of time to access a shared computer, and lack of shared computers. Also provided are suggestions and recommendations for future studies.

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