Influence of System Developers' Creative Style on Their Attitudes toward and Assimilation of a Software Process Innovation

This study examined dl~erences among IS developers’ creative styles, based on Kirton’s Adaption-Innovation theory [34]. Propositions were developed and tested to identlh whether IS developers’ creative styles were related to their attitudes toward a sojhvare process innovation which they had recently adopted (client/server developmen~ and to their overall job satisfaction and performance. Based on Kirton k theo~, it was apected that innovative soflware developers would exhibit more positive attitudes toward client/server development and to report higher levels of job satisfaction following several months of usage. It was also expected that developers’ attitudes to the innovation would in@ence their overall job satisfaction and job performance. The framework was evaluated through a survey of 200 IS developers in two firms that had recently adopted client/server development. The findings supported most of the propositions, however there were some unusual findings regarding the relationship of creative style andjob performance.