Groupware technologies have become an important part of the business computing infrastructure in many organizations, but many groupware applications, especially those requiring significant collaboration and cooperation among users, are still not adequately used. While the successful implementation of groupware depends on many different factors, achieving a 'critical mass' of users has been recognised as the key for groupware acceptance. By extending the technology acceptance model (TAM), this paper advances a groupware acceptance model that incorporates perceived critical mass as an independent variable for predicting groupware acceptance. The model is empirically evaluated using survey data collected from 385 students responding about their perception of Lotus Domino Discussion Databases. The results reveal that perceived critical mass had the largest total effect (direct and indirect) on intention to use groupware. Other relationships postulated in the model were also found to be significant. These findings corroborate the belief that it is essential to create a critical mass of users in the early stages of groupware implementation. A discussion of the implications of these findings for managers and researchers is also presented.

Computer-based communication technologies are increasingly important to personal and organizational communication. One important factor related to the adoption and diffusion of communication innovations is critical mass. Critical mass influences the adoption and diffusion of interactive communication innovations, both through network externalities and through sustainability of the innovation. Unfortunately, critical mass is difficult to measure and is typically only demonstrable after the critical mass point has been reached. Potential adopters' perceptions of critical mass also may be important to adoption decisions. In this paper, we extend this thinking using a synthesis of the Theory of Reasoned Action and Diffusion of Innovation theory by developing a research model. The model is empirically tested using survey data that are analyzed using partial least squares. The focal innovation is instant messaging. Results indicate that perceived critical mass influences use intentions directly and through perceptions of the characteristics of the innovation. The perceived innovation characteristics impact attitude toward use, which in turn impacts use intentions. The model predicts a sizable and significant portion of both attitudes and use intentions. Further, perceived critical mass is able to explain a significant portion of the variance in each perceived innovation characteristic. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Understanding the factors influencing users’ adoption and use of emerging information technologies is a critical issue for researchers and practitioners. This research aims to deepen our understanding of the underlying phenomena of technology adoption and use by examining whether there are gender differences in the importance of the perceived innovation characteristics on communication technologies use intentions. Specifically, we investigate whether gender moderates the influence of perceived relative advantage, compatibility, ease of use, visibility, result demonstrability and critical mass on intentions to use a communication technology: instant messaging. Results suggest a strong moderation effect of gender between perceptions of relative advantage, ease of use, visibility, result demonstrability, critical mass and use intentions. Contributions and future directions for research are presented.

The online peer-to-peer lending marketplace has experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2005. It has played a significant role in helping small and micro-enterprises resolve financing problems. However, this marketplace is still in its infant stage. To better understand the lending activities associated with peer-to-peer lending, we need theoretically grounded empirical research. In this study, we investigate the perceptual drivers of online lending from the perspective of lenders. We empirically test our research model with survey data collected from 217 lenders in a major online peer-to-peer lending website in China. Our results reveal that trust was the most critical determinant of willingness to lend. Perceived information quality was important in mitigating perceived risk and enhancing trust, and perceived social capital impacted trust in borrowers. Furthermore, perceived risk did not significantly influence lending willingness, but had a negative impact on trust. These findings indicate that transaction behaviors in the peer-to-peer market may not be the same as that in the purchase-oriented e-commerce settings. We conclude by discussing the study's implications for research and practice along with the its limitations.

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