Predicting General IT Use: Applying TAM to the Arabic World

Information technology adoption and use has been extensively studied in the industrialized world, yet there is dearth of knowledge regarding less developed countries (LDCs). The need for understanding how and why technology has or has not adopted by these potential knowledge workers is important for managers and providers alike. This study extends Davis’ diffusion model—the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) — and builds toward an understanding of the problem and possible solutions. Toward that end, this study tested TAM successfully in five LDC Arab nations in the Middle East. In addition to demonstrating the robustness of TAM in the developing world, the study extends TAM methodology. This was accomplished by expanding TAM’s artifact of study from specific technologies to generic personal computing. This is critical for understanding information technology adoption and use in the developing world where there may be formidable barriers to computer technology in general.