Motivated to adopt: Understanding the digital effectiveness divide (DED) in volunteerism.

摘要

The research sought to answer basic questions about the digital effectiveness divide (DED), a phenomenon that extends beyond insufficient access to include underutilization of information and communications technology (ICT) in voluntary sector organizations. The research asked questions about the extent to which a DED exists in volunteerism and what kinds of factors are associated with whether a volunteer or manager will be digitally effective or not. The research sought to clarify the extent to which being digitally ineffective is a problem. Multiple factors were found to be directly or indirectly related to the adoption of ICT in volunteerism suggesting digital effectiveness is a multidimensional construct and a complex problem.; The research showed volunteers and managers in Canada were at a low level in applying a variety of ICT systems and tools to volunteering and managing volunteers which suggests traditional forms of volunteerism continue to dominate. The research empirically tested a motivational theory and model of ICT effectiveness (ICTe) that showed differences in the rate of adoption could be explained by differences in the attitudes and expectations volunteers and managers had about ICT and several factors that were associated with the development of them.; Finally, the research sought to clarify the extent to which being ineffective was a problem. For volunteers and volunteer programs that have successfully met their needs for volunteering or demands for volunteer labour, at this stage, the low level of ICTe is a relatively low level problem. However, for volunteers who have become disconnected or who want to volunteer in specific areas or in specific ways that match their needs or preferences for work the problem is of greater significance. This is also the case for the manager of volunteer resources with a low supply of volunteers, and/or growing demand for volunteer resources. For these types of "end-users", being digitally deficient either directly (as a result of self-deficiency) or indirectly (as a result of the volunteer program deficiency) puts them at a disadvantage in achieving their goals in the realm of volunteerism. Implications of the research are discussed from theoretical, social, practical, and policy perspectives. Recommendations for future research are presented.