Task-Technology Fit Theory: A Survey and Synopsis of the Literature

Abstract

Over the past decade there has been a notable increase in the use of Task-Technology Fit (TTF) theory within the field of information systems. This theory argues that information system use and performance benefits are attained when an information system is well-suited to the tasks that must be performed. As such, it seeks to offer an account of two of the key outcomes of interest to information systems (IS) researchers. Continued interest in the application of TTF theory is therefore expected and, as a result, the following chapter aims to provide a brief overview of the theory and how it has been applied in prior work. Readers are presented with an overview of the diverse range of research contexts and methodologies that have been used to test and extend TTF theory. Key outcomes of interest to TTF researchers are also examined as are the various approaches that researchers have used to operationalize the notion of TTF. It is hoped that this overview will serve as a sound basis for future research and simultaneously help to ensure that IS research does not continue to tread the same ground. Keywords IntroductionRecognition that information systems need to be well-suited to their intended tasks extends back at least as far as the origins of the information systems (IS) discipline (Kanellis et al. 1999). Media richness theory has, for example, been founded on the premise that the decision to use a particular communication technology will be made based on the nature of the specific message to be conveyed (Daft et al. 1987). Similarly, the need for the capabilities of information systems to be suited to their tasks has been highlighted by early research examining information systems adoption (e.g., Thompson et al. 1991). Explicit, formal specification of task-technology fit (TTF) theory did not, however, occur until the publication of three seminal articles during the mid-1990s (Goodhue 1995;Goodhue and Thompson 1995;Zigurs and Buckland 1998). Since the time of these publications, the theory of TTF has been applied extensively to understanding the use of information systems and the consequences of this use in a broad range of personal and professional contexts. Recent years have been characterized by a notable increase in the use of TTF as evidenced by the number of publications incorporating the theory that have appeared in peer-reviewed journals. This trend suggests growing interest in the theory and how it can be applied to understanding the problems of interest to IS researchers. As a result, the following discussion presents a brief overview of task-technology fit theory and summarizes how it has been applied in prior work. In providing a comprehensive synopsis of the current state of TTF research, this chapter offers important guidance to researchers interested in pursing research that draws on the theory. It is hoped that the resulting understanding will serve as a sound basis for new and innovative applications and extensions of TTF theory within the field of information systems as well as within o...

A Scoping Review of the Application of the Task-Technology Fit Theory

“…TTF provides a means to quantify the effectiveness of technology in an organizations [6]. In 2012, Furneaux [7] identified the "notable increase in the use of TTF theory". This trend has continued over the years, with both an increase in the yearly number of documents published as well as in the range of environments which the theory is used, as discussed in this paper.…”

“…Despite the wide use of the theory, only two publications by Cane and McCarthy [8] and the work by Furneaux [7] was found that summarizes and synthesizes TTF related studies. The article by Cane and McCarthy [8] is limited to a small number of studies, all of which were conducted before 2006, and only considered how the studies defined TTF and its surrounding components.…”

Planning Support Systems and Task-Technology Fit: a Comparative Case Study

“…More specifically, the extent to which a PSS supports planning tasks is in this literature conceived as the so-called task-technology fit (Goodhue and Thompson 1995). Whereas several definitions exist for tasktechnology fit (see Furneaux 2012 for an overview), the one arguably most suited for the PSS debate reads: 'The matching of the functional capability of available information technology with the activity demands of the task at hand' (Dishaw and Strong 1998, p. 154). In the PSS debate, the notion of task-technology fit has received relatively little attention.…”

“…Furneaux (2012) summarises the outcomes of TTF as described in MIS and GSS research. A range of possible outcomes are discerned, including the quality of the decision or solution and the attitude about the technology and the intention to use it.…”

“…(ibid, p. 99). One category discerned by Furneaux (2012) is particularly relevant for this paper: the perceived usefulness. Recent PSS studies have developed frameworks and conducted empirical research into the question what the usefulness (or added value) of a PSS is according to practitioners.…”