Measuring Perceived Benefits and Costs of New Technology Adoption in the Chinese Textile and Apparel Industry

Abstract

The textile and apparel industry have been fundamentally changed due to technology development. However, developing countries, such as China, are falling behind for adopting new technologies. The literature suggests firm managers’ perceived benefits and costs of new technology are key variables for their motivation to adopt new technology. However, no reliable and valid scales existed to measure these constructs within the developing country context—specifically in China. Thus, the study aimed to develop scales for measuring Chinese textile and apparel firm managers’ perceived benefits and costs of new technology adoption, using the psychometric method of item response theory. After item generation, item bank development, and psychometric evaluation tested by 599 Chinese textile and apparel firm managers, the two scales were created. These scales provide an opportunity to measure Chinese textile and apparel firm managers’ perceived benefits and costs of new technology adoption, offering tools for additional technology adoption motivation research.