Triandis' Theoretical Framework as a Theoretical Foundation for User Behavior Testing in Information Systems Use and Acceptance Research

Theoretical models from social psychology have been widely used by information systems (IS) researchers as theoretical foundations to explain and predict information systems use and acceptance. Unfortunately none of these models explicitly addresses: individual personality traits that trigger intentions within the individuals leading to the observable behaviors of the individual; how environmental factors, such as Culture and Social Situations within which the individual lives impact on the individual’s personality traits leading to goal directed behaviors; and how environmental factors such as Facilitating Conditions, Social Situations, Genetic/Biological Factors cumulate into objective consequences of an individual’s behavior, the interpretations of such behavior and the reinforcement of that behavior in the individual. This paper presents Triandis’ Theoretical Framework that explicitly addresses these personality traits and environmental factors which impact on individual’s behavior towards the use and acceptance of IS. An application of the Framework in an IS research study is presented.