Impact of national culture on information technology usage behaviour: An exploratory study of decision making in Korea and the USA

This study examines the use of non-specific applications of information technology for organizational decision making and indicates some behaviours appeared to change to take advantage of the technology, while others, particularly those associated with the cultural preference for communication, did not.

Abstract

The globalization of world markets has led to the introduction of information technology, most often developed in western cultures, to other societies. Cultural values were embedded in the design and use of these technologies. Often, the receiving society did not embrace the technology because of culture. Examples of such behaviour include executive information systems and group decision support systems, which are cited later. This study examines the use of non-specific applications of information technology for organizational decision making. A survey instrument was developed to measure decision makers' perceptions of the impact of information technology on the decision process. Decision makers in Korea and the USA indicated their perceptions of the extent information technology use impacted their decision making activities. The results indicated some behaviours appeared to change to take advantage of the technology, while others, particularly those associated with the cultural preference for communication, did not.