Task-Technology Fit for Mobile Information Systems

Mobile information systems hold great promise to support organizational processes. Clear guidelines however, of how to design effective mobile information systems in support of organizational processes have not been developed. Based on earlier research studies that emphasized the importance of a fit between organizational tasks and technology (Goodhue and Thompson 1995), and that developed a systematic fit profile for one particular task-technology combination, namely group support systems to support group tasks (Zigurs and Buckland 1998), this research paper seeks to develop a fit profile for mobile information systems to support managerial tasks. We suggest to determine task-technology fit as a three-way match between managerial tasks (operationalized by non-routineness, interdependence and time-criticality), mobile information systems (operationalized by functionality, user interface, and adaptability), and the mobile use context (operationalized by distraction, quality of network connection, previous experience, and mobility). The analysis shows that use situations characterized by high distraction and poor quality of network connection are particularly challenging for the design of mobile information systems, and that the user interface requires particular attention. The proposed framework provides guidelines for the design of effective mobile information systems and for future research studies.