Influence of the business technological compatibility on the acceptance of innovations

Purpose – The objective of this study is to analyse the influence exerted by technological compatibility upon the intensity of use of the new online management programs made by information technology (IT) sector (new technology companies). Design/methodology/approach – The concept of perceived compatibility, first defined by Rogers, has been adapted to the specific characteristics of the company as the user of technology, subsequently testing its dimensionality through confirmatory analyses. Additionally, a causal study was made in order to determine the importance of technological compatibility in the intensity of use of online business management. The statistical techniques employed are based on structural equation methodology. Findings – The results demonstrate that the concept of technological compatibility is composed of several dimensions, which these differentiate the technologies previously applied by the company on the basis of their level of complexity; the overall concept achieves an explanatory power of 56 per cent with regard to subsequent technological development. Practical implications – Knowledge derived from technological compatibility permits the correct evaluation of whether to accept a new IT application, providing the company with a series of positive synergies which increase the advantages of its online business management. Originality/value – The originality of this study stems from its innovative treatment of the company as the IT user, adapting to this end the concept of compatibility hitherto exclusively applied to the analysis of the individual. Similarly, in distinction to the unidimensional approach of other research, this study has taken into account the need to establish different constructs for the measurement of technological compatibility and has demonstrated its importance in company technological development.