A35. Hart,
P. & Rice, R. E. (1991). Using information from external databases:
Contextual relationships of use, access method, task, database type,
organizational
differences and outcomes. Information Processing and Management,
27(5),
461-479. (A Top paper at the International
Communication
Association conference, 1987.)
This study applies theories about organizational information
processing
and about valuing the information to better understand the influences
on
method of access and on effects of using online information. Interviews
in four organizations indicated that users manage such systems in
different
ways suitable to the organization’s problem-solving needs and personal
skills, in order to obtain considerable benefits and overcome some
problems.
Questionnaire data showed that type of database and organizational
differences
strongly influenced access method, but access method had no independent
influence on usage or on perceived outcomes. Counter to expectations
based
upon the difficulties in assessing the cost/benefit ratio of
information
obtained from external sources, task variables had little independent
influence
on access method, usage, or outcomes. The moderate relationship between
using online information in one's work and the two outcome factors
seems
generalizable across organizations. Differences in tasks, especially
amount
of information in one’s task, appeared to influence the relationship
between
use and outcomes.
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