Factors Affecting the Adoption of Facebook by Information Professionals

摘要

This study seeks to explore whether or not informationprofessionals who deal consistently with varioustechnologies are familiar with Facebook and are ready toincorporate it within their organizations. The current studyuses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), a wellknowntheory for explaining individuals' technologybehaviors, as well as the "Big Five" model of personality,as theoretical bases from which to predict factors that mayinfluence the adoption of Facebook by informationprofessionals within their organizations. The research wasconducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2013academic year and encompassed two groups of informationprofessionals: librarians, and information specialists.Researchers used five questionnaires to gather the data.Findings indicate that this study has expanded currentresearch about the TAM by examining it within the contextof Facebook, focusing on the variable of perceivedenjoyment. In addition, the research findings confirm thatthe TAM (in its modified version), as well as otherpersonality characteristics, significantly predict thelikelihood of Facebook use, and highlight the importance ofpersonality characteristics when considering technologyacceptance. Researchers recommend that directors ofinformation organizations be familiar with both the TAMand the issue of personality characteristics. These factorsmay help them choose the most appropriate employees, aswell as understand and supervise threatened and/orunmotivated workers.