Simulating user learning in authoritative technology adoption: An agent based model for council-led smart meter deployment planning in the UK

摘要

How do technology users effectively transit from having zero knowledge abouta technology to making the best use of it after an authoritative technologyadoption? This post-adoption user learning has received little researchattention in technology management literature. In this paper we investigateuser learning in authoritative technology adoption by developing an agent-basedmodel using the case of council-led smart meter deployment in the UK City ofLeeds. Energy consumers gain experience of using smart meters based on thelearning curve in behavioural learning. With the agent-based model we carry outexperiments to validate the model and test different energy interventions thatlocal authorities can use to facilitate energy consumers' learning and maintaintheir continuous use of the technology. Our results show that the easier energyconsumers become experienced, the more energy-efficient they are and the moreenergy saving they can achieve; encouraging energy consumers' contacts viavarious informational means can facilitate their learning; and developing andmaintaining their positive attitude toward smart metering can enable them touse the technology continuously. Contributions and energy policy/interventionimplications are discussed in this paper.