Is Attitudes: toward Theoretical and Definition Clarity

There has long been a recognized need to measure the "success" or efficacy of information systems and the implementation process. Various constructs related to success have been suggested, such as user attitudes, system use, performance, and value. The attitude construct has received a great deal of attention for both theoretical and operational reasons. This paper focuses on the need for a convincing theoretical model linking systems or policies and user attitudes on the one hand, and user attitudes and performance or value on the other. Using job satisfaction research as a reference discipline for understanding the relationship between attitudes and performance, a model of IS attitudes, beliefs, and performance is developed. This model suggests that performance is affected by the correspondence or "fit" between the task requirements and the functionality of the IS environmenL In addition a distinction between beliefs and attitudes is recommended. While satisfaction might be best determined by measuring attitudes, the correspondence between task and functionality is best determined by measuring beliefs. The implications of this model for future research are discussed. use. Attitude measures are also seen as more INTRODUCTION generalizable and more general purpose than context specific measures of performance or There has long been a recognized need to value. measure the "success" or efficacy of information systems and the implementation process. MIS research in this area has been criticized for Various constructs related to success have been poor operationalization of the theoretical consuggested, such as user attitudes, use, perforstructs and insufficient attention to measuremance, and value. The attitude construct has ment error (Treacy, 1985). However, the sucreceived a great deal of attention for both cessful use of attitudes in information systems theoretical and operational reasons. Some research is also dependent upon the developresearchers theorize that user attitudes are a ment of a convincing theoretical model of the causal factor explaining use of a system causal chain from systems to value, and the (Swanson, 1982a). Attitudes are also sometimes place of attitudes in that system-to-value chain. seen as a surrogate for a key factor, such as Thus we need models linking both systems or quality of design, performance or value itself policies and attitudes. on the one hand, and (Epstein and King, 1982). Attitude research is attitudes and performance or value on the attractive operationally because user attitudes other. Without a strong theoretical base of this can be measured after the fact-they don't retype, we will be unable to build a body of emquire the large up-front organizational commitpirically supported theory, regardless of the ment associated with unobtrusive measures of statistical significance of individual results.