Learning from Experience : Managerial Interpretations of Past and Future Information Technologies

This paper reports the results of an empirical study that examines how a manager'sexperience with a specific strategic information technology in their industryinfluences cognitive managerial tasks associated with new informationtechnologies. Specifically, we sought to assess the effects of both positive andnegative managerial experiences on: the framing of new information technologiesas threats or opportunities for the firm, the perceived uncertainty associated withresponding to new information technologies, and the seeking of information aboutnew information technologies. We undertook this study in the tax preparationindustry and examined how managerial perceptions of new informationtechnologies were shaped by managers' previous experiences with electronic filingtechnology for tax returns