Technostress, Managing Technostress,

Technophobia, and Technology Acceptance

Model (TAM)

(Chuttur, 2009)

TECHNOSTRESS

Stress

• Stress is a complex term to define. It's simplest definition might be that it is an event or situation that forces a person to adapt to the event. Stress is the event itself and the reaction to that event within the person experiencing it. Thus stress is completely subjective. What may be stressful to one person might be pleasant or fun to another.

At least 30% of all groups irrespectiveof gender or age

HesitantResistant

Frustrated

“Technostress” by Michelle M. Weil and Larry D. Rosen

Technostress

Technostress is the negative psychological association between people and the new technologies.

It is a result of altered habits of work and collaboration that human being brought about due to the use of modern information technologies at office and home situations.

Technostress

• Technostress is “a modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with the new computer technologies in a healthy manner." 

• Technostress is an undesirable phenomenon spawned by use of computing and communication devices such as PC's, tablets and smartphones.

Complaints of Technostress

• Psychological stress can manifest itself physically. Similarly there are a number of librarians’ physical complaints like backaches, eye strain, neck pain, stiff shoulder, and joint pains. Others are experiencing insomnia, anxiety, loss of temper, irritability, and even frustration.

Work Environment of Technostress

In the 21st century learning environment, librarians are well equipped with latest technology to better serve their clients and most of the professionals are likewise experiencing levels of technostress.

The fact that most of their works are done by sitting and facing the computers for a longer time and resulted into physical strain.

SensoryMemory

∞

Short-termMemory

5-9 chunks20 secs

∞

FiveSenses

∞

Long-termMemory

Long time

∞

Work Environment of Technostress

The physical work environment where library staff spend eight or more hours a day is critical to their security, job satisfaction, and increasingly their health.

In a technological world, providing employees with an appropriate and safe physical environment is a necessity.

Work Environment of Technostress

Too much exposure to computer monitors is associated with emotional stress, the professionals are slightly affected emotionally by the technostress in their workplaces.

Professionals are already used as part of their professional work and computer related problems are handled by the computer technicians.

A Typical Day

Individually

DesignedTo

makeLife

easier-but-

CollectivelyIt’s

stressful

Managing Technostress

Managing Technostress

Outcomes of technostress include decreased job satisfaction, organizational commitment and productivity.

Experts recommended to minimize the technostress:• A periodic assessment is necessary to check the

level of technostress affecting the professionals especially the physical and emotional aspects.

Managing Technostress

• Managers should organize technology-based trainings for employees to make them comfortable with technologies and the awareness of harmful effects.

• Managers should organize technology-based trainings for employees to make them comfortable with technologies and the awareness of harmful effects.

Managing Technostress

• Universities and colleges need to employ qualified information and technology specialist and troubleshooters to maximize system accessibility and provide a level of comfort to the professionals.

There are five conditions that are classified as "technostress creators": “Techno-overload” describes situations where use of computers forces people to work more and work faster. “Techno-invasion” describes being “always exposed” where people can potentially be reached anywhere and anytime and feel the need to be constantly connected. The regular work-day is extended, office work is done at all sorts of hours, and it is almost impossible to "cut away".

• Techno-complexity” describes situations where the complex computer systems used at work force people to spend time and effort in learning and understanding how to use new applications and to update their skills. People find the variety of applications, functions, and jargon intimidating and consequently feel stressed. “Techno-insecurity” is associated with situations where people feel threatened about losing their jobs to other people who have a better understanding of new gadgets and computing devices.

• Techno-uncertainty” relates to short life cycles of computer systems. Continuing changes and upgrades do not give people a chance to experience at a particular system. People find this unsettling because their knowledge becomes rapidly outdated and they are required to re-learn things very rapidly and often.

Technologically Captive Moments

• Increments of time spent waiting for some machine-driven event to happen

• e.g.– Being on hold, listening to hold music, waiting

for someone to respond– Skipping to a song you want to hear on CD– Waiting for the microwave to finish– Waiting for you PC to boot– Waiting for a download

Technostress can be dealt with: • Get adequate, user friendly software• Create better communication within

the environment• Create a level of reassurance, patience, and

stability within the environment• Maintain an ever-present system of training

and education to new and old technologies• Avoid using technology• foster sharing of computer related knowledge

within the organization.

Technostress can be dealt with: • A responsive and easily reached help-desk can allay

managers’ anxiety and concerns, guide them in using and familiarizing with new computer applications and assure them in case of problems

• keep employees “involved” in the general scheme of things in the context of new computer systems. The more involved and familiar they are, the less techno - stressed they would be.

• encourage people to “experiment” and innovate in the context of computer use

• encourage employees to communicate, discuss, and share their knowledge about computers

Designing Better Interfaces

• Make them easy-to-use

• Follow design guidelines

• Maybe had configurable interfaces– Beginner– Intermediate– Expert

TechnoPhobia

Question

• Is Technostress the same thing as Technophobia, or is there any reality behind the idea of have an actual phobia to computers and technology ?

Answer

• This paper…

• Thorpe, S. J., & Brosnan, M. J. (2007). Does computer anxiety reach levels which conform to DSM-IV criteria for specific phobia? Computers in Human Behavior Vol 23(3) May 2007, 1258-1272.

• says

Answer• This paper…

• Thorpe, S. J., & Brosnan, M. J. (2007). Does computer anxiety reach levels which conform to DSM-IV criteria for specific phobia? Computers in Human Behavior Vol 23(3) May 2007, 1258-1272.

• says

YES

Fear of Technology

• People who live in the past

• Luddites

• Saboteurs

• The Lead Pencil Club

• Neo-Luddites

People who live in the past

• Nutcases

On the other hand…

Topless Meetings

Communications Overload

Worker’s Technology Bill of Rights

Technology puts independent workers in the driver's seat

To keep technology in it's proper perspective, declare your independence.

Worker’s Technology Bill of Rights1. I am the boss, not my technology.

2. Technology is available to help me express my creativity.

3. I decide when to use the tools technology provides.

4. I have the right to choose what technology to use and what to put aside.

5. I can use technology to stay connected, informed, and productive – my way.

6. Technology offers a world of information. I get to choose what information is important to me.

7. Technology will have problems, but I will be prepared to handle them.

8. Technology can work 24-hour days, but I can choose when to begin and when to stop working.

9. Technology never needs to rest, but I do.

10. I can work successfully by enforcing my boundary needs.

Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

What is Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)?

• A model developed to study the acceptance of the technology by an individual taking into account, basically, both the perceived easy of use and the usefulness of the technology.

What is Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)?

• The TAM was initially proposed by Davis (1989). It comprises two beliefs, the perceived utilities and the perceived ease of application, which determine attitudes to adopt new technologies. The attitude toward adoption will decide about the adopter’s positive or negative behavior in the future concerning new technology.

What is Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)?

• One of the most frequently employed models for research into new information technology acceptance. The TAM suggests that when users are presented with a new technology, a number of factors determine their decision about how and when they will use it.

What is Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)?

• a model of individual acceptance of IT, stating that an individual’s adoption of IT is dependent on the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the technology.

• TAM is a model of user acceptance of information systems technology-based on the theory of reasoned action. Two variables perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use lead to attitude toward use, behavioral intention to use and use of the system.

What is Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)?

Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

TAM tells us the impact of the factors that the user decides on whether they will go to use the new technology or not.

References:• Brod, Craig. Technostress: The Human Cost of the Computer Revolution.

Reading, Mass: Addison Weslety, 1984.

• Chuttur M.Y. (2009). "Overview of the Technology Acceptance Model: Origins,

Developments and Future Directions ," Indiana University, USA . Sprouts: Working Papers

on Information Systems, 9(37). http://sprouts.aisnet.org/9-37

• Davis, F. D. (1989), "Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology", MIS Quarterly 13 (3): 319–340, doi:10.2307/249008

• Ennis, Lisa A. "The Evolution of Technostress." Computers in Libraries, Sept. 2005, 10-12.

• Gorman, M. (2001). Technostress and library values. Library Journal, 124

• (7), 48-50.

• Harper, S. (2000). Managing technostress in UK Libraries: A realistic guide.

Ariadne. Available online at: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue25/technostress/intro.html.

References:• Murthy, T. A. V., & Cholin, V. S. (2003). Library automation. Available

online at: http://dspace.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/1994/170/3/03cali_1.pdf• Ragu-Nathan, T.S., Tarafdar, M., Ragu-Nathan, B. and Tu,

Q., Consequence of Technostress in End Users: Conceptual Development and Empirical Validation, Information Systems Research, December 2008, 19, 4, 417-433.

• Tarafdar, M., Ragu-Nathan, T.S., Ragu-Nathan, B. and Tu, Q., The Impact of Technostress on Productivity, Journal of Management Information Systems, Summer 2007

• West, J. (2007). Technophobia, technostress, and technorealism. In R.S. Gordon, (Ed.), Information tomorrow: reflection on technology and the future of public and academic libraries (pp 203-215) Medford, New Jersey : Information Today.

• Weil, M. M. and L. D. Rosen. (1997). Technostress: Coping with Technology @ work @ home @ play. New York : John Wiley.