PurposeIn light of a growing trend towards mobile information management and a UK governmental drive for police forces to implement mobile technologies and realise significant benefits, it is important to examine the factors affecting officer acceptance. There appears to be little understanding of the key factors, yet this is critical to the success of the initiative. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main factors that influence the usage of mobile technologies amongst police officers.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative, partially ethnographic design was followed to allow an in‐depth exploration of this issue. The study was based on a mixed‐methods longitudinal evaluation study of the implementation of mobile technologies within a UK police force over a nine‐month period. The technology acceptance model (TAM) and the subsequent TAM2 and TAM3, were then reengineered to provide a suitable theoretical model for a mobile policing context.FindingsIn total, four main categories of officer acceptance factors were identified: officer performance, security/reliability, management style and cognitive acceptance. Evidence from the study showed a key shortfall in all three versions of the TAM in that they focus on the user perspective and did not confirm the broader organisational factors within the implementation and social contexts of mobile policing.Originality/valueConsequently, an adapted mobile‐TAM (m‐TAM) was produced that incorporated these factors into the existing TAM elements. The high‐level nature of the adapted model for mobile policing means it could be applied by other police forces and potentially other organisations, regardless of the type of mobile device implemented, to address the barriers to acceptance. The m‐TAM addresses the need for a more relevant and robust model to the mobile policing paradigm, which goes beyond the static technology environment in which the TAM2 and TAM3 were built.
The Impact of Mobile Technology on a UK police force and their knowledge sharing Abstract.The paper discusses an evaluation study that investigates the impact of mobile technology on a UK police force and on knowledge sharing processes. An empirical, ethnographic approach to the research was adopted, using a mixed method approach of focus groups, questionnaires, observational 'work shadowing' and interviews with a total of 42 staff involved in a trial of mobile technology. The findings from the various methods are consistent, suggesting that mobile technology has a positive impact on policing and knowledge sharing. The timeliness of information improved, increasing the availability of information for decision-making. Reductions in information overload were apparent due to mobile technology providing greater control over information. There was a positive impact on knowledge sharing in the course of operational duties. Information and knowledge could be shared more quickly with officers in the field; and mobile technology provided a new avenue for keeping each other up to date with events. The paper contributes towards an understanding of the upcoming concept of 'mobile knowledge management' and offers a set of recommendations to manage the possible long-term risk of mobile technology on knowledge sharing.
Technology acceptance in policing is under-researched, yet mobile devices are widely implemented across UK police forces. The paper validates a mobile technology acceptance model (M-TAM), developed in a single police force. It shows that the M-TAM is transferrable to other UK police Forces, and potentially worldwide. The influence of local supervision and fit of technology to roles and tasks are shown to be the most influential factors. Factors beyond the technology itself, such as the influence of peers and involvement of operational officers in technology investment decisions, must be considered to accommodate the strong cultural barriers in policing.
In a climate of financial austerity, greater emphasis is placed on improving the operational effectiveness, efficiency and cost of delivery of services. This paper discusses the development of a conceptual framework to assess the business value and impact of mobile technologies in a UK police force. At present there are few structured frameworks from which police forces can assess the value of mobile technologies within a short time frame with little effort or large budget. The conceptual framework contributes to the performance assessment in policing, providing a structured approach for police forces to understand where to concentrate their efforts, in terms of which data to collect. It utilises secondary data sources, such as global positioning based resource and demand systems to assess impact on time spent policing communities. The conceptual framework can be used by police forces, and similar types of organisations, seeking assessment of new technological initiatives.
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